Down and Across (with guest and author Arvin Ahmadi)

This week on the MashReads Podcast, we talk to Arvin Ahmadi about his debut novel 'Down and Across.' The book follows Scott Ferdowsi, who is on a guest to find his purpose and become gritty. When he runs away from his home in Philadelphia to D.C. for the summer, he meets Fiora, a crossword puzzle enthusiast struggling to define her own life as well.

"You hear sometimes, and this is a cliche, that life is like a crossword puzzle. But Fiora’s perspective is a bit different," explains Ahmadi. "[She believes] that life is like constructing a crossword puzzle. Where you’re given the grid, you’re given the constraints of your life, but it’s up to you to actually fill in the squares."

Join us as we talk about grit, crossword puzzles, writing diverse characters, and more.

And, as always, we close the episode with recommendations:
Arvin recommends two books: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. “It’s crazy, it’s this multi-universe story but at the same time, it’s a story full of heart and interpersonal relations." And The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. He also recommends Jordan Peele's Get Out. “You watch it and you think about it every day.” (MJ piggybacked off of that and also recommends reading Wesley Morris’ profile of Jordan Peele for the New York Times Magazine.)
Arvin also shouts out Abstract, a design series on Netflix that talks to artists and designers in a variety of creative industries.
MJ recommends the New York Times’ copy edit quiz called "Copy Edit This." “It is by far the most complicated relationship I have in my life because you will feel highs and lows of your own competence. It’s hard but it’s fun, and you always learn something new.” He also recommends “Why city flags may be the worst-designed thing you’ve never noticed” a TED talk by Roman Mars, host of the design podcast 99% Invisible.

This week on the MashReads Podcast, we talk to Arvin Ahmadi about his debut novel 'Down and Across.' The book follows Scott Ferdowsi, who is on a guest to find his purpose and become gritty. When he runs away from his home in Philadelphia to D.C. for the summer, he meets Fiora, a crossword puzzle enthusiast struggling to define her own life as well.

"You hear sometimes, and this is a cliche, that life is like a crossword puzzle. But Fiora’s perspective is a bit different," explains Ahmadi. "[She believes] that life is like constructing a crossword puzzle. Where you’re given the grid, you’re given the constraints of your life, but it’s up to you to actually fill in the squares."

Join us as we talk about grit, crossword puzzles, writing diverse characters, and more.

And, as always, we close the episode with recommendations:

Arvin recommends two books: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. “It’s crazy, it’s this multi-universe story but at the same time, it’s a story full of heart and interpersonal relations." And The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. He also recommends Jordan Peele's Get Out. “You watch it and you think about it every day.” (MJ piggybacked off of that and also recommends reading Wesley Morris’ profile of Jordan Peele for the New York Times Magazine.)
Arvin also shouts out Abstract, a design series on Netflix that talks to artists and designers in a variety of creative industries.
MJ recommends the New York Times’ copy edit quiz called "Copy Edit This." “It is by far the most complicated relationship I have in my life because you will feel highs and lows of your own competence. It’s hard but it’s fun, and you always learn something new.” He also recommends “Why city flags may be the worst-designed thing you’ve never noticed” a TED talk by Roman Mars, host of the design podcast 99% Invisible.