

Close Reads Podcast
Goldberry Studios
Close Reads is a book-club podcast for the incurable reader co-hosted by David Kern, Heidi White, Sean Johnson, and occasionally Tim McIntosh. We read good books and talk about them.
This is a show for amateurs in the best sense. This is not an experts show: we’re book lovers, book enthusiasts. Our goal is have empathetic and intelligent conversations about good books.
Close Reads is produced by Goldberry Studios, the podcast wing of Goldberry Books, a family-run indie bookshop in Concord, NC. closereads.substack.com
This is a show for amateurs in the best sense. This is not an experts show: we’re book lovers, book enthusiasts. Our goal is have empathetic and intelligent conversations about good books.
Close Reads is produced by Goldberry Studios, the podcast wing of Goldberry Books, a family-run indie bookshop in Concord, NC. closereads.substack.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 12, 2019 • 1h 13min
The Remains of the Day, Prologue and Day 1
Join David, Heidi, and Tim as they kick off discussion of a new book: Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day. Topics of conversation include the expectations of a road novel, the book's treatment of dignity, why professionalism is so important to Stevens, the questions of culture the book raises, key scenes, and more. Don't forget: Subscribe, rate, review.And if you like this show please supporting it on Patreon. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. 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

Jan 4, 2019 • 1h 22min
The Year in Reading
The gangs all here for a fun conversation about our favorite books of 2018, what we're planning to read in 2019, and much, much more. Don't forget: subscribe, rate, review. And to see our lists of our favorite books head over to the Close Reads Instagram page! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. 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

Dec 30, 2018 • 1h 30min
The Great Gatsby Q&A
David, Angelina, and Adam are back with more conversation about F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby! In this episode, they answer your questions. Don't forget: Subscribe, rate, review.And if you like this show please supporting it on Patreon. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. 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

Dec 21, 2018 • 1h 31min
The Great Gatsby, Final Chapters
David, Angelina, and Adam are back more conversation about F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby! Conversation touches on Gatsby's demise, Nick's departure, Fitzgerald's worldview, and (of course) the famous final passage. Don't forget: Subscribe, rate, review.And if you like this show please supporting it on Patreon.This episode is presented by our friends over at New College Franklin - check them out at NewCollegeFranklin.org. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. 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

Dec 14, 2018 • 1h 6min
The Great Gatbsy, Chapters 6-7
David, Angelina, and Adam are back more conversation about F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby! Conversation touches on Jay Gatsby's dream-based Platonic ideal, the clash between Tom and Gatsby, Daisy's choice, Eckleburg's vigil, and much more. Don't forget: Subscribe, rate, review. And if you like this show please supporting it on Patreon.This episode is presented by our friends over at New College Franklin - check them out at NewCollegeFranklin.org. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. 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

Dec 8, 2018 • 1h 28min
The Great Gatsby, Chapters 4-5
Welcome back to Close Reads! This week David, Angelina, and special guest Adam Andrews (of Center for Lit) chat about chapters 4 and 5 of F. Scott Fitzgerlad's novel, The Great Gatsby. Topics of conversation include several minutes on the first sentence of chapter 4, the question of the "debauchery" in the story, Gatsby as a hero, the book's place in the canon, and much more. Remember: subscribe, rate, review. And if you like this show please support it on Patreon. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. 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

Dec 1, 2018 • 1h 23min
The Great Gatsby: Chapters 1-3
Join David, Angelina, and guest Adam Andrews for a rousing discussion about The Great Gatsby. Topics include the presence of a hero, the reliability of the narrator, key themes, the American dream, and the importance of place in the book.

Nov 23, 2018 • 1h 6min
Bonus Episode: David Joins "The Bookening" to Discuss/Defend Flannery O'Connor
In this Thanksgiving week bonus episode, David goes on The Bookening podcast to discuss Flannery O'Connors "Good Country People." Remember: Subscribe, rate, review! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. 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

Nov 16, 2018 • 1h 19min
The Power and the Glory Q&A
Join Heidi, Tim, and David as they answer listener questions about Graham Green's The Power and the Glory. Remember: subscribe, rate, review!Support us on Patreon! To learn more about the Close Reads Podcast Network please click here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. 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

Nov 10, 2018 • 1h 38min
The Power and the Glory: Final Chapters
Join David, Tim, and Heidi as they discuss the final chapters of Graham Greene's The Power and the Glory, focusing on whether the priest is a hero and the lieutenant is a villain, characters who have conversions, the saintly characteristics of the whiskey priest, the chiastic structure of the novel, and much more. If you like this show please remember to subscribe, rate, and review!Support us on Patreon! To learn more about the Close Reads Podcast Network please click here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. 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