Happy Thursday and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for THE RECKLESS KIND! I’m so excited because today I have an interview with Carly Heath and my aesthetic board to share with you! This book is truly amazing and I’m so excited to for you to find out more about it!
The Reckless Kind by Carly Heath Published on November 2, 2021 by Razorbill
Genres: YA, Historical Fiction, Queer, Aspec
Pages: 336
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Author Links: Website, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram
A genre-defying debut, this queer historical YA centers a wild and reckless trio who fly in the face of small town tradition—full of compassion, love, and determination to live the lives of their choosing.
It's Norway 1904, and Asta Hedstrom doesn't want to marry her odious betrothed, Nils—even though a domestic future is all her mother believes she's suited for, on account of her single-sided deafness, unconventional appearance, and even stranger notions. Asta would rather spend her life performing in the village theater with her friends and fellow outcasts: her best friend Gunnar Fuglestad and his secret boyfriend, wealthy Erlend Fournier.
But the situation takes a dire turn when Nils lashes out in jealousy—gravely injuring Gunnar. Shunning marriage for good, Asta moves with Gunnar and Erlend to their secluded cabin above town. With few ties left with their families, they have one shot at gaining enough kroner to secure their way of life: win the village's annual horse race.
What would you do if you spent the day with Asta, Gunnar, and Erlend? Where would you go to eat, hang out, relax, etc.?
Asta would love to spend a day doing anything involving animals—so, bottle-feeding some rescued piglets, hanging out with some sheep, taking ponies down to the beach for a ride… those are probably the things we’d do together.
Erlend, Gunnar, and I would probably go for a drive in Gunnar’s motorcar, and then Gunnar would shake his head in dismay as Erlend and I would spend way too much money shopping and dining out.
If Asta, Gunnar, and Erlend were to hang out with characters from other books, who would they be and why?
I think they’d all be very good friends with Ingrid, Alex, and the crew from the forthcoming Fire Becomes Her by Rosiee Thor. It’s a 1920’s-vibe fantasy with an absolutely wonderful cast of characters. I think Asta, Gunnar, and Erlend would be thrilled to be magically transported into a 1920s alternate reality and hang out with such an awesome group that questions their social structure.
If there was one fictional place you could travel to for a day, where would it be and why?
Circe’s island in Madeline Miller’s CIRCE. Being alone on an island in my own castle with a bunch of animal friends would definitely be the dream.
If you buried a time capsule with three items inside, what three items would you choose and why?
Okay but when will the time capsule be opened? I’m assuming this is centuries in the future. So, probably:
-A weather-proof, laminated note that says something like “Are you people still doing the capitalism? If so, why? Also: please stop.”
-A copy of Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston because I just feel like that captures this current time period really well.
– A single doge coin and a note that says This is actual currency… (I admit, this one is a stretch, I’ve been trying to come up with something clever and this is all I got)
What was your favorite bit of research you ended up not using?
I believe it was in UNPROTECTED FEMALES IN NORWAY (written in the 1855s) where the narrator described Norwegian beds as being so small/short that you couldn’t lay in them stretched out. In her words, she said something like “Norwegian beds aren’t made for laying straight.” Of course the pun potential is enormous, but alas, I didn’t use that.
What is your favorite quote, scene, or moment from The Reckless Kind?
Erlend and Gunnar’s first kiss.
About Carly Heath
Carly Heath (she/they) earned her BA from San Francisco State University and her MFA from Chapman University. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Carly teaches design, art, theater, and writing for various colleges and universities. She spends all her time and most her money tending to a menagerie of rescued farm animals. The Reckless Kind is her first novel.
What do you think about The Reckless Kind? Have you added it to your tbr yet? Let me know in the comments and have a splendiferous day!
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