Are Men or Women More Sexually-Open? | In Conversation with Rams Mabote

Описание: In this candid and thought-provoking interview, we sit down with author, broadcaster, and social commentator Rams Mabote to unpack his gripping novel The Sweetest Taboo, a story that delves into the complexities of love, betrayal, power, and the consequences of our choices.

Rams reflects on the inspiration behind the book, explores the moral grey zones his characters inhabit, and shares his thoughts on masculinity, vulnerability, and storytelling in a South African context.

Expect reflections on:
• The tension between desire and responsibility
• Writing flawed characters with empathy
• How society shapes men, and how men shape society
• Why some taboos are sweeter than others

Timestamps
00:00 Coming up
00:47 Intro
01:10 Welcome to Bookmarked Conversations
1:40 Welcome to Rams Mabote
2:30 The importance of a book cover
3:02 How did Rams come up with the title “The Sweetest Taboo”?
4:28 How much of the book is based off of Rams personal experience, and how much is purely fictional?
7:47 When did Rams decide to write “The Sweetest Taboo”?
9:30 Rams is an older man who comes from a rather conservative generation, so what compelled him to write a book about a banker going on sexual rendezvous in Australia?
12:44 Who did Rams write this book for? Who did he imagine as his ideal reader?
13:47 As a man, does Rams feel that men in his circle feel comfortable to talk about topics like sex?
19:26 If the sweetest taboo were to be adapted in a movie or series who would Rams cast in the movie or series?
20:56 Why did Rams set the book in 2008, during such a politically charged time in South African history?
21:54 The sexual openness of the women Morati encounters challenges so many societal expectations. What is Rams inviting the reader to confront or question here?
23:40 How much of Morati’s journey is metaphor for the black South African experience in white-dominated spaces, both locally and abroad?
25:40 What was the role of Pax in Morati’s journey, and  why was it important to have a “home base” voice throughout?
26:55 In South Africa, there aren’t many erotic books. Does Rams want to see more writers writing erotic literature?
37:58 What does The Sweetest Taboo reveal about the psychological burden of representation in Morati being the “only black man at the dinner party”?
39:11 How does Rams think this book would’ve been received if written by a woman, or  from a woman’s point of view?
42:52 Rams has worked in media and storytelling for years. How has his journalistic background influenced his fiction writing?
43:59 In an age of cancel culture and moral judgement, was Rans worried about how people would interpret the book’s content?
47:00 In 100 years when people hear the name, Rams Mabote, what would he like them to remember him by?

Whether you’re a fan of the book, a lover of bold conversations, or simply curious about the man behind the words, this episode is for you.

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