The Bookening

Steven Millhauser is one of the coolest, most uncanny, weird, beautiful, mysterious writer's writers that a lot of people haven't heard of, kind of a cross between Borges and Poe and Leave it to Beaver. And today The Bookening is talking about one of his best story collections, Dangerous Laughter.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Is Gandalf a Christ figure? Is it even good to look for Christ figures in literature? Or is there a point at which a wizard fighting a Balrog is just that ... a wizard fighting a Balrog? Brandon and Nathan (Jake was away on Important Pastor Business) discuss all this and also HELM'S DEEP, YES! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Our Lord of the Rings reviews continue, as our heroes talk The Two Towers. Ents, men, and Tolkien the Environmentalist are all subjects of discussion. Plus we get into an extended conversation about Tolkien's style and the tricksy way it morphs as the novel continues.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It's our 200th episode. To """""celebrate""""", we watched Cats. This does give Brandon an excuse to talk about T.S. Eliot though. Yay!  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In our fourth (been a while since we've done that many) episode on Harper Lee's immortal To Kill a Mockingbird, our heroes discuss the characters. Is Atticus intended as a flawed human being? Is he one whether he was intended that way or not? Is this Jem's story or Scout's? Other intriguing questions you should listen etc. we love you.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

So it has come to this. Our heroes continue to address criticisms of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, using words like critical race theory, representation, and privilege. Was Harper Lee a coward for writing the novel the way she did? Did Tom Robinson deserve more book time? Listen on! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It's Part 2 of our discussion on To Kill a Mockingbird by the great Harper Lee. Our heroes provide some baggage, discuss whether this is THE great American novel, and handle some criticisms, including one by Flannery O'Connor.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Oh boy oh boy. We're discussing one of the great American novels, starting today, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Brandon provides some much needed context on this work, managing to work in thoughts on the Civil Rights movement, the Harlem Renaissance, and where conservatives western canon types  get it wrong. Plus the drama surrounding Go Set a Watchman. And whether or not Truman Capote actually had anything to do with this novel or not. Hooray!  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Moria! Moria! Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria! In this episode our heroes continue their discussion of Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien and talk about .......... Lothlorian! And Moria! And why it's hard for Americans to wrap their heads about elves. And other things! Hooray! Next week we start To Kill a Mockingbird.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Oh brother. In this Dadaesque episode of The Bookening our heroes discuss Waiting for Godot by Samuel Becket. At least it is arguable that they do this, but it sounds like some sort of gas was released into the room. Or something. Anyway, along the way, they talk a lot about existentialism, Brandon makes a date with the Knight of Infinite Resignation, and a beloved new catchphrase is born based on Nietzsche's mustache. DON'T MISS OUT!   ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★