The Foxed Page
Kimberly Ford
If you love to read, The Foxed Page is for you. With these deep dives into the best books, you’ll gain a richer understanding of the title at hand, all while learning to read everything better.Choose from long-form lectures, quick recommendations, talks on old favorites and plenty of episodes from the archives.Listen to The Foxed Page--with Kimberly Ford, best-selling author, former adjunct professor and Ph.D.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 29, 2024 • 1h 21min
CARRIE by Stephen King >> Find out why King is worth serious literary respect, especially on the FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY of this iconic novel.
You might think of CARRIE as just a REALLY SCARY book, but narrative stance, its sophisticated structure, its use of motif and of "scientific evidence" are all integral in making it so good. TUNE IN to fully appreciate the genius King's first novel.
Apr 15, 2024 • 1h 14min
Lecture 48: Megan Nolan's ORDINARY HUMAN FAILINGS >> Looking for a thriller that's incredibly well written? Look no further!
Join Kimberly to hear how this behind-the-scenes immersion in British tabloid journalism hits all the right notes. You'll come away with a deeper understanding of why Nolan's masterful narrative stance, pacing, character development and structure make this so much more than an excellent thriller.
Apr 1, 2024 • 1h 28min
REPOST: Dorothy Baker’s CASSANDRA AT THE WEDDING > Find out why literally NO ONE to whom Kimberly recommends this 1962 novel about identical 21-year-old twins in California is disappointed.
Kimberly always describes Cassandra at the Wedding as a near-perfect novel. From Baker’s insanely great use of figurative language to nostalgia for the Berkeley and the Central Valley of the early 60s, to an incisive exploration of individuation in the case of identical twins–the novel is a huge crowd pleaser every time Kimberly teaches it. (NOTE: this lecture kind of assumes you've read (or are reading) the novel. There are likely references to spoilers. If you're trying to get a sense of the book, maybe check out the five-minute recommendation further down in the episode list!)
Mar 29, 2024 • 52min
Lecture 45: Jo Baker's LONGBOURN > Have you always wanted Downton Abbey in the form of a REALLY WELL WRITTEN novel?? PLUS JANE AUSTEN ELEMENTS??!! This is it, people!
Listen in as Kimberly parses the many reasons why LONGBOURN is her favorite of all Austen adaptations. You'll end up with a much deeper understanding of why this insanely novel has it all.
Mar 28, 2024 • 56min
Lecture 46: Janice Hadlow's THE OTHER BENNET SISTER > Ever wondered what MARY Bennet was up to?? Wonder no more!
Jane Austen week continues! Janice Hadlow gives us a new perspective on familiar parts of Pride and Prejudice--then goes beyond to imagine a whole new world. Join Kimberly for insights on history, usage of the source material and levity in the original.
Mar 27, 2024 • 52min
Lecture 44: Melinda Taub's THE SCANDALOUS CONFESSIONS OF LYDIA BENNET, WITCH > Let Kimberly (and Taub) answer all the questions about Pride and Prejudice that you didn't even know you had!
Ever wondered what the Bennet family BLACK SHEEP was actually up to? Wonder no more! Taub's juicy, witchy novel is so well done. Listen as Kimberly explains how Taub's witchy-ness is an important feminist statement! Even if you aren't a huge Jane Austen fan (Kimberly herself isn't completely rabid) Taub's work is so worth your while!
Mar 18, 2024 • 1h 20min
Lecture 43: Virginia Woolf's ORLANDO>> This fantastical ROMP--what with Orlando living 400 years, and both as a man and a woman--has never been more crucial!
Listen in to see how to get the most out of Woolf's most hilarious, inventive, ground-breaking novel--while reveling in some of the best prose in the English language.
Mar 15, 2024 • 45min
REPOST: Judy Blume's ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET>> Seriously, who needs a reason to revisit this touchstone?? Find out why this classic is such a literary feat!
Your 12-year-old self will come rushing right back–in the very best of ways! Kimberly digs in to the excellent prose, why MARGARET has never been out of print, and all the ways the novel is more about deep, engaging, questions than it is about periods.
Mar 11, 2024 • 1h 30min
Lecture 42: Rebecca Yarros's FOURTH WING>> Two burning questions: Why is so much fantasy set in the medieval era? and Why is so much written by mormon writers??
Tune in to find out some answers to these fascinating questions. Also learn why Kimberly is skeptical of bestsellers--and why Yarros is doing so much so well!
Feb 27, 2024 • 1h 23min
Lecture 40: POOR THINGS! Readers! AHHHHH!!! The movie streams today--and Alasdair Gray's 1992 novel (the source material) is SOOO GOOD! You MUST LISTEN TO THE PODCAST AND READ THIS BOOK!
Kimberly read Gray's Scottish novel (because of the movie) and was BLOWN AWAY. Listen to why this brainy, unique, super-engaging ROMP is a must read--whether or not you love Emma, Yorgos, Willem, Mark and the gang.
