The Literary Life Podcast

Welcome to another remix episode of The Literary Life podcast with this popular "Literary Life of…" interview episode with Angelina, Cindy and their guest Jone Rose. Jone is a "super-fan" of the podcast and is a homeschool mom living in North Carolina. Today Angelina starts off the interview asking about Jone's childhood reading life and school experience. Jone shares how her own adult literary education didn't start until after she had been homeschooling her own children for several years. In addition to discussing the redemption of Jone's own education, they talk about what Jone's reading life looks like now, how narration helps make connections and increase understanding, asking better questions, and so much more! To get see all the books and links mentioned in this episode, please view the full show notes on our website at https://www.theliterary.life/239.

Delve into the fascinating world of biographies as the hosts discuss their literary significance and impact on personal growth. They examine the delicate balance between highlighting a figure's greatness and revealing their flaws. The importance of biographies for children's education is emphasized, along with the declining trends in this genre. Insights into classic works like Boswell's 'Life of Johnson' encourage a deeper appreciation for the art of biography. The conversation blends personal anecdotes, literary critiques, and the future of biography writing.

Dive into the mysterious world of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' as the discussion uncovers the suspenseful narrative structure and intriguing duality of its characters. Explore the concept of forbidden knowledge and its chilling parallels with 'Frankenstein.' The hosts examine the moral dilemmas of addiction and the consequences of dehumanization, while also reflecting on the rich historical context of the story. Get ready to ponder the nature of morality and the struggle between good and evil through captivating literary insights.

Join in as hosts delve into the intriguing duality of human nature found in Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.' They explore the mythic qualities of the story and discuss Stevenson's life, with humorous debates about his name pronunciation. Personal anecdotes and thoughts on virtue versus competition in education add depth to the conversation. Engaging themes of morality and societal pressures reflect the complexities of Victorian literature, while a heartfelt reading of poetry wraps up the warm discussion.

This discussion dives deep into the profound symbolism in 'Harry Potter,' emphasizing connections to alchemy and mythology. The speakers explore character development and the significance of friendships, particularly the trio of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. They investigate the wild man archetype through Hagrid, and examine themes of good versus evil, highlighting Harry's moral journey. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on deeper literary meanings while noting the spiritual dimensions present in children's literature.

Explore the classical allusions and Homeric echoes in Harry Potter Book 1. Uncover the significance of character names and the three parts of the soul. Delve into Christian influences on Rowling's stories and the symbolism in the structure of literature. Discover the parallels between Harry Potter and mythological heroes, the symbolism of Gryffindor house, and the complexities of sports like Quidditch. Dive into the history of bestiaries and their influence on storytelling, and analyze the symbolism and character analysis in Harry Potter focusing on desire, identity, and emotional balance.

On this podcast, Angelina and Thomas discuss the literary motifs in Harry Potter, the symbolism of character names, and the importance of alchemy in the series. They explore themes like identity quests, Gothic literary tradition, and the rise of the fantasy genre. The hosts analyze magical elements, character dynamics, and quest symbolism, drawing parallels to other works like 'Alice in Wonderland'. They also examine the Latin origins of character names and discuss the evolution of romance and novel genres in literature.

In this podcast, Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks discuss the controversial magic in Harry Potter, the origins and publishing journey of the series, orphaned characters and boarding school stories in literature, literary archetypes and schoolboy stories, and the introduction and first chapters of Book 1. They explore living conditions, character behavior, Harry's unique encounters, and reflections on the first two chapters, setting the stage for a deeper dive into the world of Harry Potter.

Join Cindy Rollins, Emily Raible, and Jone Rose as they discuss literary overwhelm, avoiding comparison, and protecting your attention span in the literary life journey. Learn about making connections, enjoying the feast of reading, and embracing the long haul of continuous growth.

For this week's "Best of The Literary Life" series episode, we revisit a conversation about George Orwell's essay "Why I Write." Angelina and Cindy kick off the discussion about how much they each identify with Orwell's description of his childhood. In his story of learning to write, we see many aspects of a good education, even his inclination to imitate other authors. An important point Angelina brings up is Orwell's own struggle against the calling he felt to write, in contrast to having an ambition to do so. Angelina brings up a related story about musician Gregory Alan Isakov, and Cindy reiterates the idea of why we need leisure in order to find our vocation. Cindy and Angelina also bring out some of the qualities Orwell possessed that make a good writer. Maturity as a human being and as a master of a craft are crucial to certain forms of writing, as Orwell points out about his own work. Other topics of conversation include truth-telling in writing, the motives for writing according to Orwell, and the growing process of writers. If you want to find replays of the 2019 Back to School online conference referenced in this episode, you can purchase them in Cindy's shop at MorningTimeforMoms.com. For replays of the How to Love Poetry webinar with Thomas, you can find those at HouseofHumaneLetters.com. Check out the schedule for the podcast's summer episodes on our Upcoming Events page. Commonplace Quotes: Never had she seen it so clearly as on this evening — what destiny had demanded of her and what it had given her in return with her seven sons. Over and over again joy had quickened the beat of her heart; fear on their behalf had rent it in two. They were her children, these big sons with their lean, bony, boy's bodies, just as they had been when they were small and so plump that they barely hurt themselves when they tumbled down on their way between the bench and her knee. They were hers, just as they had been back when she lifted them out of the cradle to her milk-filled breast and had to support their heads, which wobbled on their frail necks the way a bluebell nods on its stalk. Wherever they ended in the world, wherever they journeyed, forgetting their mother– she thought that for her, their lives would be like a current in her own life; they would be one with her, just as they had been when she alone on this earth knew about the new life hidden inside, drinking from her blood and making her cheeks pale. Sigrid Undset, from Kristen Lavransdatter Orwell was a poet who happened to find his medium in prose, a poet not so much in his means of expression as in the nature of his vision, which could strip the sprawling tangle of the world around him down to its core with the simplicity of a timeless flash of intuition. C. M. Wodehouse, from the introduction to Animal Farm Veni, Creator Spiritus by John Dryden Creator Spirit, by whose aid The world's foundations first were laid, Come, visit ev'ry pious mind; Come, pour thy joys on human kind; From sin, and sorrow set us free; And make thy temples worthy Thee. O, Source of uncreated Light, The Father's promis'd Paraclete! Thrice Holy Fount, thrice Holy Fire, Our hearts with heav'nly love inspire; Come, and thy Sacred Unction bring To sanctify us, while we sing! Plenteous of grace, descend from high, Rich in thy sev'n-fold energy! Thou strength of his Almighty Hand, Whose pow'r does heav'n and earth command: Proceeding Spirit, our Defence, Who do'st the gift of tongues dispence, And crown'st thy gift with eloquence! Refine and purge our earthly parts; But, oh, inflame and fire our hearts! Our frailties help, our vice control; Submit the senses to the soul; And when rebellious they are grown, Then, lay thy hand, and hold 'em down. Chase from our minds th' Infernal Foe; And peace, the fruit of love, bestow; And, lest our feet should step astray, Protect, and guide us in the way. Make us Eternal Truths receive, And practise, all that we believe: Give us thy self, that we may see The Father and the Son, by thee. Immortal honour, endless fame, Attend th' Almighty Father's name: The Saviour Son be glorified, Who for lost Man's redemption died: And equal adoration be, Eternal Paraclete, to thee. Book List: Kristen Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset Animal Farm by George Orwell P. G. Wodehouse The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings by Philip and Carol Zaleski Support The Literary Life: Become a patron of The Literary Life podcast as part of the "Friends and Fellows Community" on Patreon, and get some amazing bonus content! Thanks for your support! Connect with Us: You can find Angelina and Thomas at HouseofHumaneLetters.com, on Instagram @angelinastanford, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ANGStanford/ Find Cindy at morningtimeformoms.com, on Instagram @cindyordoamoris and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CindyRollinsWriter. Check out Cindy's own Patreon page also! Follow The Literary Life on Instagram, and jump into our private Facebook group, The Literary Life Discussion Group, and let's get the book talk going! http://bit.ly/literarylifeFB