

Sophomore Lit
John McCoy
A podcast about your 10th grade reading list, hosted by John McCoy.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 18, 2023 • 58min
146: Through the Looking-Glass
If you’ve believed six impossible things before breakfast, why not listen to this podcast before lunch? Phil Gonzales discusses Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871).
John McCoy with Phil Gonzales
Referenced Works
Through the Looking-Glass
Show Notes & Links
Kate Beckinsale adaptation of Through the Looking Glass
Phil’s favorite!
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Jul 3, 2023 • 60min
145: The Grapes of Wrath
In this podcast, the hosts discuss John Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath' from its controversial presence in high school curriculum to the complex character of Casey and the controversial ending. They also explore themes such as women's roles, art, propaganda, and the treatment of women in the novel. The podcast provides an analysis of the Texan dialect, personal connections to the Dust Bowl, and curiosity about the characters.

Jun 10, 2023 • 46min
144: Howl's Moving Castle
Howl likes to move it, move it. Audrey Lazaro and Dan McCoy are on to discuss Diana Wynne Jones’s book Howl’s Moving Castle (1986).
John McCoy with Dan McCoy and Audrey Lazaro
Referenced Works
Howl's Moving Castle
Howl's Moving Castle
[Amazon]
Show Notes & Links
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May 12, 2023 • 50min
143: Long Day's Journey Into Night
I don’t care how long this day’s journey has been, so help me I will turn this car around if you kids don’t stop. Kris Markel discusses Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night(written 1941, published 1956).
John McCoy with Kris Markel
Referenced Works
Long Day's Journey Into Night
Show Notes & Links
The Complete and Condenses Stage Directions of Eugene O'Neill, vol. 1
This clip dramatizes the stage directions for Long Day’s Journey into Night Act 2, Scene 1.
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Apr 18, 2023 • 59min
142: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Jean, Jean, the roses are red and all of the leaves have gone green, so Glenn Fleishman and John are discussing Muriel Spark’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961).
John McCoy with Glenn Fleishman
Referenced Works
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Show Notes & Links
Pants in the Boot
Glenn’s podcast on being divided by a common language.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
Trailer for the film adaptation starring Maggie Smith.
Rod McKuen: Jean
McKuen’s inexplicable theme song for the above.
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Apr 3, 2023 • 38min
141: Carrie's War
Ross Cleaver discusses Carrie’s War (what is it good for?), Nina Bawdwin’s 1973 children’s book about evacuations, skulls, and grumpy Welshmen.
John McCoy with Ross Cleaver
Show Notes & Links
BBC School Radio: Carrie's War
The BBC school radio site with teaching guides and a complete recording of the book.
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Mar 20, 2023 • 41min
140: The Snows of Kilimanjaro
Grab a whisky and soda and put your leg up. My dad and I discuss Ernest Hemingway’s “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” (1936). Bonus content: a visit to the Hemingway Home in Key West!
John McCoy
Referenced Works
The Snows of Kilimanjaro
Show Notes & Links
Hemingway Home
The former home of Ernest and the current home of many six-toed cats.
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Mar 2, 2023 • 53min
139: Beloved
Jelani Sims returns to discuss the literal and metaphorical ghosts of Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel Beloved (1987).
John McCoy with Jelani Sims
Referenced Works
Beloved
Show Notes & Links
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Jan 20, 2023 • 1h 2min
138: Great Expectations
I have good feelings about this one! Zach Powers returns to discuss desparate criminals and mysterious benefactors in Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations (1861).
John McCoy with Zach Powers
Referenced Works
Great Expectations
Show Notes & Links
Great Expectations (1998) Trailer
Relive the 90s and enjoy the trip-hop stylings of Mono.
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Dec 24, 2022 • 31min
137: A Christmas Carol
There are many podcasts from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited. John and Marina discuss Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843).
John McCoy with Marina McCoy
Referenced Works
A Christmas Carol
Show Notes & Links
1984 adaptation of A Christmas Carol
With George C. Scott.
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