John Updike's "Witches of Eastwick" is a darkly comedic novel exploring themes of female empowerment, sexuality, and the supernatural. The story centers on three women in the small town of Eastwick, Rhode Island, who unknowingly possess magical abilities. Their lives intertwine with the arrival of a mysterious and charismatic man, Darryl Van Horne, who unleashes chaos and unexpected consequences. Updike's writing is characterized by its wit, psychological depth, and exploration of complex relationships. The novel's blend of humor and darkness makes it a captivating and thought-provoking read.
Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels is a series of four novels following the complex relationship between two women, Elena Greco and Lila Cerullo, from childhood to old age. Set in Naples, Italy, the series explores themes of friendship, ambition, class, and the changing social landscape of post-war Italy. Ferrante's writing is characterized by its psychological depth, vivid descriptions, and exploration of female experience. The novels have garnered international acclaim for their compelling characters, intricate plot, and insightful portrayal of female relationships. The series offers a rich and immersive exploration of Italian culture and society, as well as the enduring power of female friendship.
Published in 1957, 'Atlas Shrugged' is Ayn Rand's magnum opus and her longest novel. The story is set in a dystopian United States where increasingly burdensome laws and regulations strangle innovation and productivity. The plot follows Dagny Taggart, a railroad executive, and Hank Rearden, a steel magnate, as they struggle against 'looters' who exploit their work. A mysterious figure named John Galt leads a strike of productive individuals, persuading them to abandon their companies and disappear. The novel culminates with Galt's three-hour radio speech explaining his philosophy of Objectivism, which emphasizes rational self-interest, individual rights, and the importance of the human mind. The book explores themes of capitalism, property rights, and the failures of governmental coercion, presenting a provocative vision of a society in collapse and the potential for a new capitalist society based on Galt's principles.
There’s arguably no better time for falling down a cultural rabbit hole than the languid, transitory summer months. On this episode of Critics at Large, Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz discuss how the season allows us to foster a particular relationship with a work of art—whether it’s the soundtrack to a summer fling or a book that helps make sense of a new locale. Listeners divulge the texts that have consumed them over the years, and the hosts share their own formative obsessions, recalling how Brandy’s 1998 album, “Never Say Never,” defined a first experience at camp, and how a love of Jim Morrison’s music resulted in a teen-age pilgrimage to see his grave in Paris. But how do we square our past obsessions with our tastes and identities today? “Whatever we quote, whatever we make reference to, on so many levels is who we are,” Cunningham says. “It seems, to me, so precious.”
This episode originally aired on June 27, 2024.
Read, watch, and listen with the critics:
“Heathers” (1988)
“Pump Up the Volume” (1990)
The poetry of Sergei Yesenin
The poetry of Alexander Pushkin
GoldenEye 007 (1997)
“Elvis” (2022)
“Jailhouse Rock” (1957)
“Pride & Prejudice” (2005)
The Neapolitan Novels, by Elena Ferrante
“Ramble On,” by Led Zeppelin
“Never Say Never,” by Brandy
“The Boy Is Mine,” by Brandy and Monica
“The End,” by The Doors
“The Last Waltz” (1978)
“The Witches of Eastwick,” by John Updike
“Atlas Shrugged,” by Ayn Rand
“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003)
“Postcards from the Edge” (1990)
“Rent” (1996)
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