Overdue

Dive into the tempestuous world of Wuthering Heights, where romance collides with vengeance and class struggles. Explore the Brontë sisters' unique legacy while pondering the absurdities of Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Discover the intricate relationships that shape Heathcliff and Catherine's tragic love story against a backdrop of societal constraints. The hosts share humorous anecdotes, reflect on the gothic themes of the novel, and let you in on personal stories, inviting a sense of community along the way.

Though not conventionally spooky, Daphne du Maurier's classic novel Rebecca is a perfect fit for Spooktober. It takes place at a big creepy (but beautiful) house. There's an evil maid. And the late wife of Maxim de Winter haunts every action, every line of dialogue. Rebecca's also a powerful exploration and indictment of how women can have their identity defined for them. Join us for a chat about terrible husbands, Halloween costumes, plagiarism, old people, and Ace Ventura.This episode is brought to you in part by Dollar Shave Club and Blue Apron.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Spooktober rolls on this week with Jay Anson’s The Amityville Horror, a “true story” from the mid 1970s about a family that buys a haunted house and then gets chased out of it. Its spookiness rating is… pretty low. We talk a bit about the real-life history of 112 Ocean Avenue, pig monsters, falling off of bikes, spaghetti, and ending chapters with exclamation points. This week’s show is brought to you in part by the fine folks at Squarespace.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Spooktober rolls along with another Choose Your Own Adventure: Louise Munro Foley's Ghost Train. We make some dubious choices in this week's episode: spending a summer in Canada, fighting corporate greed, discussing cat literature, and getting to the bottom of who's sabotaging the orchards! This week's adventure is brought to you by Blue Apron.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week is the start of Overdue’s second-annual Spooktober spookfest, a month full of scary books that will get you in the mood for Halloween! Our first book, brought to us by special guest host Kathryn VanArendonk, is about James and Deborah Howe’s Bunnicula. Kathryn could never finish this one as a kid, but she braved it as an adult so she could tell you about all the weird stuff that happens in it. A cat reads books. A bunny sucks the juice out of vegetables. And oh yeah, it was written by a dog.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Andy Weir's The Martian is about a man who gets trapped on Mars. It's about all of the actually plausible-sounding science he uses to get himself out of one scrape after another. It's about the efforts of people back on Earth to get him home. It's about (we suppose) triumph in the face of adversity, and the innate goodness of humanity. In this case, what hurts the book the most is what it isn't: it isn't a particularly interesting character study, since the wisecracking astronaut Mark Watney seems to sail over every obstacle the red planet throws at him without much physical or psychological damage. It isn't a treatise on solitude (Watney rarely seems particularly affected by his loneliness in any lasting way) or on the darker side of human nature (there are no adversaries aside from Mars itself). What's here is a breezy read that's got some entertainment value, but it doesn't have quite the impact it could have had, which is a shame.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The hosts dive into the final chapters of Middle-Earth, analyzing the characters' journeys and the emotional weight of their battles. They humorously discuss a court ruling on the 'Happy Birthday' song, sparking creative ideas for new birthday tunes. The chaotic battle for Gondor showcases themes of loyalty and heroism, while Frodo and Sam's struggle in Mordor blends humor with tension. Ultimately, they reflect on Tolkien's lasting impact on fantasy, underscoring the importance of connection in literature.

Dive into the thrilling depths of The Two Towers, where action takes center stage! Discover why this installment outshines the first in standalone storytelling. The hosts unpack listener reactions while celebrating Sam Gamgee's heroic charm. Explore the mythical Ents as they grapple with reality and the environmental threats posed by Saruman. Enjoy the evolving friendships and moral complexities among characters, with humor and camaraderie shining through as they face darkness together. It's a captivating journey through Tolkien's rich world!

Embark on a whimsical journey through Middle-earth! Dive into the enchanting world of Hobbits and elven paradises while unpacking the complexity of Tolkien's legacy. Enjoy humorous takes on bath time songs and the peculiarities of Tom Bombadil. Reflect on Gandalf's epic showdown with the Balrog and the dark allure of power embodied by the One Ring. Through lively banter, uncover the evolution of fantasy storytelling and the cultural impact of Tolkien's work, all wrapped up with playful insights and a light-hearted farewell.

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic of American literature, and for good reason. The follow-up-slash-first-draft, Go Set a Watchman, doesn't have the same impact, but it's a fascinating look at how books change during the editing process. This show was recorded live in Philadelphia, PA. Thanks to everyone who came out! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.