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Sophomore Lit

Latest episodes

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Sep 5, 2024 • 54min

163: The Twenty-One Balloons

Because twenty would be too few and twenty-two would be ridiculous. Shaenon K. Garrity discusses William Pène du Bois’s The Twenty-One Balloons (1947). John McCoy with Shaenon K. Garrity Referenced Works The Twenty-One Balloons Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
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Aug 13, 2024 • 46min

162: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Rain Main meets Air Bud. Dan McCoy discusses stims and happy endings and Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2003). John McCoy with Dan McCoy Show Notes & Links Dan McCoy's Special Interests My brother’s newsletter mentioned in the episode. Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
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Jul 15, 2024 • 58min

161: A Canticle for Leibowitz

This is the way the world ends, not with a bang but with a bunch of monks sitting around copying stuff. Jelani Sims returns to discuss Walter M. Miller Jr.’s A Canticle for Leibowitz (1959). John McCoy with Jelani Sims Referenced Works A Canticle for Leibowitz Show Notes & Links A Canticle for Leibowitz The Internet Archive has all episodes of the 15-part NPR Playhouse adaptation which aired in 1981. Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
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Jun 21, 2024 • 44min

160: Why I Live at the P.O.

Stick some stamps on the top of our heads. Deborah Stanish discusses Eudora Welty’s “Why I Live at the P.O.” (1941) John McCoy with Deborah Stanish Referenced Works Why I Live at the P.O. Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
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May 30, 2024 • 52min

159: The Phantom Tollbooth

The most important reason for going from one place to another is to see what’s in between. Moisés Chiullán discusses Norton Juster’s The Phantom Tollbooth (1961). [We’ve re-issued this episode to correct an audio problem.] John McCoy with Moisés Chiullán Referenced Works The Phantom Tollbooth Show Notes & Links The Phantom Tollbooth (1970) Trailer for Chuck Jones’s adaptation. Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
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Apr 22, 2024 • 38min

158: A Perfect Day for Bananafish

Podcasters: What Do They Know? Do They Know Things?? Let’s Find Out! Jason Snell talks about marine life in J.D. Salinger’s “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” (1948). John McCoy with Jason Snell Referenced Works A Perfect Day for Bananafish Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
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Apr 5, 2024 • 30min

157: The Veldt

Lions and tigers and bea— you know what, just lions. Jordan Morris is here to discuss Ray Bradbury’s story “the Veldt” (1950). John McCoy with Jordan Morris Show Notes & Links "The Veldt" radio drama From the 1983 NPR Playhouse series Bradbury 13. "The Veldt" Track by Combustible Edison from the album I, Swinger (1994). Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
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Mar 15, 2024 • 58min

156: Heart of Darkness

Dive into the dark depths of Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' as the hosts dissect colonialism, imperialism, and the enigmatic character of Kurtz. Explore the mastery of Conrad's language, the conflicting ideologies of the era, and the subtle critique of European colonialism within the narrative. Unravel the themes of invasion fiction in Victorian literature and the complexities of interpreting the layers of meaning within the story.
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Feb 1, 2024 • 60min

155: Tom Sawyer

In this episode, the hosts discuss Mark Twain's 'Tom Sawyer' and their personal history with the novel. They explore the satirical elements in Twain's writing, the evolution of Happy Days, and Tom Sawyer's theme of nostalgia and disillusionment. The speakers also delve into the relevance and popularity of the book today, discuss the connection between 'Huckleberry Finn' and 'Tom Sawyer Detective', and speculate on Mark Twain's financial difficulties.
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Jan 10, 2024 • 52min

154: Wide Sargasso Sea

Actually, I need this sea in an extra wide. Caroline Fulford discusses postcolonialism and recurring fires in Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea (1966). John McCoy with Caroline Fulford Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

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