Episodi

  • JOHN of JOHN by Douglas Stuart

    JOHN of JOHN by Douglas Stuart
    Oct 26 2026
    Tune in to fully appreciate the ways this novel is REALLY DELIVERING. We look at how it is, in many ways, a traditional, straight-forward novel--and why that's such a good thing with Stuart at the helm. Listen now in case Stuart wins his SECOND BOOKER PRIZE on November 9!
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    1 ora e 15 min
  • LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE by Celeste Ng

    LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE by Celeste Ng
    Oct 19 2026
    Did you read this NINE YEARS ago? If so, this talk will remind you why you loved it so much. OR why you didn't quite get the hype. It was SO fun to dig in to the ways that Ng makes fiction do what fiction does best: narrative stance, structure, plotting and characterization are so strong. Even the parts that seemed just a touch too convenient (listen in to see if you agree!) were compelling. The way she hits all the notes makes this talk an excellent way to become a BETTER READER (though I think you're perfect the way you are). Listen in now!
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    58 min
  • KATE CHOPIN's "The Story of an Hour"

    KATE CHOPIN's "The Story of an Hour"
    Oct 12 2026
    NO READING REQUIRED! I READ THE WHOLE (super short) SHORT STORY TO YOU! Remember Chopin's THE AWAKENING? This 1894 story has the same vibe, same boldness, same feminist prose--but it's short! Listen in for a deeper understanding of crucial elements of old-school, classic short fiction: reminders of why the form works well and how writers today uphold or push against conventions. This twisty tiny masterpiece was SO FUN to dig into. Listen in now!
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    48 min
  • EAST OF EDEN by John Steinbeck

    EAST OF EDEN by John Steinbeck
    Oct 8 2026
    Watch me conjure John Steinbeck from the dead! NO ACTUAL READING OF THE NOVEL REQUIRED! If you love the TV series, listen now to get A LOT more out of it. I'll tell you, this 1952 classic surprised me! Its sense of place, lessons in history, denigration/elevation of women, biblical underpinnings...the list of strengths could go on and on. Whether its your favorite novel of all time, or you've only seen the show, or you have just the haziest ninth-grade memories of Lenny squeezing that bunny in OF MICE AND MEN--tune in to hear why Steinbeck deserved that Nobel Prize.
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    1 ora e 3 min
  • WE NEVER CALLED IT FRISCO by Jed Perl

    WE NEVER CALLED IT FRISCO by Jed Perl
    Oct 5 2026
    To be completely honest, I picked this up because I thought I saw it on the Booker long list. I was mistaken (!!) but WOW am I glad I read it. How is this his first novel??? Also, best title ever. *** https://blog.loa.org/2014/10/an-interview-with-jed-perl-how-lives-of.html https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dialogues-the-david-zwirner-podcast/id1400997563?i=1000554152182 https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jed-perl/we-never-called-it-frisco/
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    53 min
  • MODERATION by Elaine Castillo >> Five dollars says you don't know how to pronounce Castillo.

    MODERATION by Elaine Castillo >> Five dollars says you don't know how to pronounce Castillo.
    Sep 28 2026
    This book is SO smart. Listen in to appreciate its richness, depth and complexity. ALSO, an hour from now you'll know the crucial difference between extraction skimming and reading as a means of real understanding.
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    1 ora e 2 min
  • HELEN of NOWHERE >> If this doesn't win the Booker I might cry.

    HELEN of NOWHERE >> If this doesn't win the Booker I might cry.
    Sep 21 2026
    Goodman is sooooo smart. HELEN is inventive, heady, strange and HILARIOUS. Listen in to see what all those Booker judges might have identified when they longlisted this gem of a novella. Resources consulted and/or cited: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/makenna-goodman-interview https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/feb/06/helen-of-nowhere-by-makenna-goodman-review-a-perfect-fairytale-for-our-times https://www.guernicamag.com/makenna-goodman-motherhood-and-isolation/ https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-culture/books-arts-culture/inside-the-mind-of-booker-prize-nominee-makenna-goodman/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbRJv5dyq3M
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    1 ora e 9 min
  • BEGINNING MIDDLE END by Valeria Luiselli >> Find out why this one caused me a minor breakdown.

    BEGINNING MIDDLE END by Valeria Luiselli >> Find out why this one caused me a minor breakdown.
    Sep 14 2026
    Luiselli is TOO GOOD. This readable, complex, multi-faceted text proves yet again that she's a voice we need to hear. Listen in for a better appreciation of the structure, the polyphonic nature, its autofiction elements and the crucial use of echo. Plus what I think is REALLY GOING ON HERE.
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    1 ora e 5 min