Close Reads Podcast

This week its Tim’s turn to be in Europe, so David and Heidi are holding down the podcast fort. The reading took us to the Book of Repose, so conversation touches on the untimely and fairly gruesome demise of Ambrogio, the book’s contemplation on the nature of time, the way the book is a form hagiography, and much, much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

During this week’s episode, Heidi was off on an adventure in Switzerland, so David and Tim held down the Close Reads fort, which just means they discussed Ambrogio the Italian, his strange visions, and his role in the book; the way the book layers deep philosophical questions into the narrative (including on the question of time); Tim’s grand theory for this book; and more.Close Reads HQ is a audience-supported endeavor. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Thanks! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

Arseny has a new name and is on a new journey, so on this week’s episode David, Heidi, and Tim dig into Ustina the miracle worker, the self-awareness of the book, reading it from a theological perspective, why David has some reservations about it, and much more. Close Reads HQ is a community-supported endeavor and when you subscribe you help us pay the bills (and gain access to bonus content). Thanks! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

This section of Laurus is fairly traumatic—so traumatic, in fact, that Heidi says she can barely bring herself to re-read it. So naturally David, Heidi, and Tim discussed what its purpose is, what Vodolazkin seems to be after, how they read this book, a few deep theological questions the book raises, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

It’s time to launch our voyage into a new book. Over the next six weeks or so we’ll be traversing with Arseny across medieval Russia, contemplating all the while matters of history, faith, mysticism, wonder, beauty, tragedy, sin, repentance, guilt, love, and much more. Here on this first episode, David, Heidi, and Tim explain why they love this book so much, discuss what makes Vodolazkin such a gifted writer, contemplate the way the book approaches bodies and physicality, and offer some tips for reading the rest of the book. Happy listening!Close Reads is a community-supported endeavor. When you support the show by subscribing here at Close Reads HQ you get access to bonus content, but you also help make the show possible. Thank you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

As always upon reaching the end of a book, it’s time for a Q&A episode. And, of course, you delivered plenty of great questions worthy of contemplation. So in this week’s episode David, Heidi, and Tim discussed the place of Moon (and his secret) within the narrative, the storyline of the falling man, why Kathy and Tom get on so well, and much more. Close Reads HQ is a community-supported endeavor. Please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

In which David and Sean make Heidi endure the slings and arrows of the new adaptation of her favorite Jane Austen novel—all for your entertainment. Along the way they discuss the way the filmmakers seem not to have read the book but also have a good eye for wardrobe (but again, even there, seem unfamiliar with when the book and ostensibly the movie itself, takes place). It’s a whole thing. Anyway, feel free to hit play on the movie at the same time we do, or to watch and then listen to our reactions later, or to just ignore the whole thing altogether and go on with your life happier in the knowledge that, well, you’re less broken inside than people who watched it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

This week we’re discussing the second half of J.L. Carr’s A Month in the Country, which means we’re chatting about Alice Keach, Mr Moon, what the fresco in the church reveals, Tom Birkin’s past, and much more. Oh—be warned: there’s also an off-the-rails conversation about wet neckerchiefs. (Reminder: we are away at a conference the rest of this week so there will be no episode next week. We will run the Q&A episode on July 26.) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

The gang is back together! Join David, Heidi, and Tim as they chat about one of David’s favorite books, J.L. Carr’s A Month in the Country. In this episode, they discuss what Carr does especially well, the virtues of the book being short, the story’s place in World War I narratives, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

Join David, Heidi, and Karen as they conclude their conversation of Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles by answering your questions. Topics include Tess’s idealization of Angel, frustrations with the end of the book, the development of the novel as an art form, Hardy’s criticisms of his culture, Hardy’s use of symbolism, and much more! (And thanks to Karen Swallow Prior for joining us for this series!)Please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber here at Close Reads HQ. Your support allows us to create bonus content, pay our team, and keep on keeping on. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe