48. Book Love with Jota Reads
On this week’s episode, Chatrice and Luis welcome Jaime of Jota Reads, an Instagram Book Club, to talk dating and relationships as found in books! Before the main topic, our hosts catch up. Since last time, Chatrice is being superhost, on site for work, and celebration National Boyfriend Day; while Luis is a busy bee, being on the virtual speaking circuit, and finding time to breathe during a busy time. Before getting to the main topic, Jaime talks to Courting in Color and our hosts about Jota Reads including what is the word “jota” and its history as well as what is the importance of starting an online book club centered on queer joy. Our hosts and Jaime talk good relationship advice from romance novels, respond to an article about applicable relationship advice from romance novels, and to wrap up book recomendations from Jaime and our hosts!
Time Stamp:
0:19 - Hello and Welcome Back
0:56 - Hosts check in: Chatrice is on site at work, hosting on Airbnb again
5:28 - Question for the season: what holiday are we celebrating this week? October 3 - National Boyfriend Day; October 11- National Coming Out Day; October 11 - Indigenous Peoples’ Day
6:35 - Chatrice celebrations National Boyfriend Day in style
10:51 - Shout Out for the Culture: Lil Nas X’s “MONTERO” album; Adele’s comeback and new album (named “30” perhaps?)
14:24 - Guest: Jaime of Jota Reads and guest introductions
16:40 - Whitness of bear community; affirming of body space, not affirming of people of color
17:35 - What is the dating scene in Jaime’s hometown?
19:08 - Current dating/relationship s tatus of Jaime
22:03 - What is Jota Reads?
26:18 - What is jota? The history of the word “jota”
29:05 - Main Topic: what can books teach us about dating and courting?
29:19 - Research on the main topic: article - “Good Relationship Advice from Romance Novels” by Maya Rodale (Bustle, May 2015)
31:07 - Advice: Believe in Hate at First Sight
34:40 - connection to Netflix’s Bridgerton
36:48 - “What is my tresh hold of what can I disagree on?” - Luis
38:08 - Advice: Don’t Fall for the “Right” Guy
41:19 - Jaime talks about important value in dating as part of being the right guy
42:17 - “You can’t marry a man you just met” - Elsa to Anna in “Frozen”
43:25 - Conversation on green flags in relationship in addition to red flags
43:55 - Advice: Be Totally Unrealistic
47:31 - “Everybody’s fairytale is different, you get to define yours” - Jaime
48:50 - Striving for the queer chicano fairy tale
49:10 - Are there books that come to mind that have taught us lessons about dating and relationships?
49:29 - Books from Jaime about queer love: “The Rain God” by Arturo Islas; “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secret of the Univere” by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
54:29 - Books from Chatrice with lessons about dating and relationship: “How to Fail at Flirting” by Denise Williams
56:05 - Juxtaposition of reading black voices in the space of romance as opposed to white voices like in “The Baby Sitters Club”
58:11 - Who writes books about romance, dating, and relationship?
59:24 - Luis Book Recommendation: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
1:00:18 - Consuming media and representation in media
1:01:24 - Close Out: Where can people find Jaime? Follow @JotaReads on Instagram!
Notes:
“Good Relationship Advice from Romance Novels” by Maya Rodale - https://www.bustle.com/articles/79598-9-relationship-lessons-i-learned-from-romance-novels-because-these-books-actually-teach-you-real-life-advice
Jota Reads on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jotareads/