Book Fight

Delve into a classic WWII coming-of-age novel that sparks both nostalgia and debate. The hosts discuss whether contemporary high school students should still read it and the complex friendship between the characters Gene and Phineas. They humorously ponder if their bond hints at deeper connections, while also addressing the challenges classic literature faces in modern education. With a mix of literary critiques and personal reflections, the discussion is lively, touching on themes of innocence, rivalry, and the evolving landscape of reader engagement.

This week we read Elizabeth Gilbert's debut story, "Pilgrims." It was originally published in Esquire. We did not care for it. For more, visit us online at bookfightpod.com.

We welcome special guest Josh Fruhlinger, proprietor of the popular and long-running blog The Comics Cumudgeon, as well as the author of a recent novel, The Enthusiast, to discuss Jennifer Egan's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Goon Squad. We also talk to Josh about the successful Kickstarter he ran to fund his own book, building an online audience, his enthusiasm for trains, and Mary Worth's love life. For more, visit us online at bookfightpod.com.

An unconventional literary success story this week, as we talk about Donald Ray Pollock's 2008 debut story collection, KNOCKEMSTIFF, which he wrote after quitting his job at a paper mill and giving himself five years to "make it" as a writer. We also talk about the proliferation of "20 under 40"-style listicles in the literary world, and why we're so obsessed with youth. For more, visit us online at bookfightpod.com.

A special mid-week treat for you, Book Fight fans. Tom was recently in Blacksburg, Virginia, for a conference at Virginia Tech, and sat down with Matthew Vollmer, author of Inscriptions for Headstones and Future Missionaries of America. They talked about publishing, teaching, and how to make time for your own work while leading a busy life.

We welcome guest Jen A. Miller (Running: A Love Story) who helps us unpack the 1981 novel that served as inspiration for the famous film, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? The book is quite different than the movie: darker, for one thing, and also featuring both a magical genie and some questionable opinions about Persians. In the second half of the show, we talk to Jen about street harassment, peeing while running, MySpace, and "whore pants." For more, visit us online at bookfightpod.com.

Amy Hempel's first published story was a breakout success, and has gone on to be one of the most anthologized stories of the last few decades. We talk about her path to success, and why this story has resonated. We also discuss some of the mid-to-late 80s backlash to minimalist fiction, which Hempel got caught up in. In the second half of the show we talk about people who had early career success in writing and the arts, and how (or whether) they followed it up. For more, visit us online at bookfightpod.com.

We talk about DeLillo's forthcoming novel--a meditation on death, love, language and the permanence/impermanence of objects. If that sounds kinda heavy ... well, it is a DeLillo novel. In the second half of the show, we talk about a recent essay from The Walrus called "I Don't Care About Your Life: Why Critics Need To Stop Getting Personal n Their Essays," by Jason Guriel. As always, visit us online for more: bookfightpod.com.

Our second installment in the Spring of Success has us considering the breakthrough of Jhumpa Lahiri, who had two stories in The New Yorker within a few months of each other, then a story collection, and then a Pulitzer Prize. How did it happen? What was it that set her stories apart? We also talk about musicians and artists who supposedly sold their souls to the devil to earn their success. And whiney white guys who think they're at a publishing disadvantage these days. For more, including links to some of the things we talked about this week, visit us online at bookfightpod.com.

One of the most popular mystery novels by one of the world's best-selling mystery novelists. Also: weirdly racist? In America, the title of this Christie novel has always been And Then There Were None. But in Great Britain, the original title featured the n-word. No, we're not making that up. This week also features the triumphant return of Fan Fiction Corner, including some very sexy Marco Rubio stories. For more, check us out online at bookfightpod.com. Thanks for listening!