The Bookening

Well, friends, here in another episode of The Bookening on The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. In this one we get a suprsing amount of discussion out of a simple question: was Tolkien a racist? Yes, kind of, but how should that affect your enjoyment of the story? Also, why recount every riddle in the dark? What is the power of the cave section? That's what our heroes talk about in this episode! Yay! The Hobbit Part 3 next week!Support us here! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This is a very simple episode on the notion of how we approach genre, which may have ramifications for how we think through our year of Tolkien. The question is, do you approach a genre piece (like Lord of the Rings) as a work of fiction, holding it to all the standards thereby supposed? Or do you approach it as a genre piece? Do some people do one and some people do the other? Who is right? What does it all mean? Has the way people approach the fantasy genre changed? Brandon couldn't make it to this recording session which was sad, and hopefully very unusual. But this is what we worked through. Enjoy. Support us here! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Here is our first full real Tolkien podcast where we are actually talking about a book. Bilbo Baggins! Gandalf! Thorin Oakenshield! Tolkien poetry! Support us here! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

If you like The Bookening, you should like this episode of The Bookening. And it does contain some of the promised discussion of The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. But the fact is that we got off-topic a little bit and talked about literary style and talent, so we decided to save our more meaty discussion of The Hobbit for next week. But you should still listen to this episode. Love, Us. Support us here! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thanks, Patrons! We have unlocked the year of J. R. R. Tolkien, and this episode begins it all with our heroes discussing the baggage that they bring to Tolkien, and Brandon providing some much-needed context to Tolkien's life and work (if you can imagine that). You'll hear about Tolkien's wife dancing for him in a forest, the difference between philology and linguistics, Tolkien's experience of World War I, and so much, much more. And The Hobbit is coming next week. Enjoy!Support us here! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode our heroes finally tear into the meat of War and Peace, talking about all those wonderful characters, Pierre, Natasha, Andrei, Boris, the professor, and Mary Ann. Many wise things are said. You should really read this book. Seriously. It's the best. Next week we begin a little Tolkien! Support us here! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hey, folks! We're finally talking about the nitty gritty of War and Peace. First we open some absolutely great presents from a friend, in our patented mailbag segment. And then ... this episode is a little over a place, but it's because we love the book so much, we just kinda jump in and start gabbing about it. You'll hear our thoughts on which is better, Anna Karenina or the novel in question. And some of the best scenes and moments and insights and things that make Tolstoy the greatest writer of all time. We'll be back next week with some (slightly) more linear thoughts on all the same stuff. Love you. Support us here! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode of The Bookening podcast, Nathan says something silly near the beginning, Brandon says something nerdy about a book  somewhere in the middle, and Jake says something impassioned and pastoral somewhere near the end. It's a pretty unique episode that way. What is the subject you ask? Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, Baby. One of the top three books our heroes have done on The Bookening.  We'll be doing some Tolkien content here asap. Thanks to all our patrons for making the Year of Tolkien happen! Support us here! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Dive into the fascinating world of Tolstoy as the hosts blend humor and history while discussing 'War and Peace.' They reimagine classic characters as Muppets, making literature fun. A deep look at the historical context reveals the intricate dance of individual and social movements in Tolstoy’s Russia. Insights into Tolstoy’s life show how personal tragedy influenced his writing. The discussion highlights his talent for capturing human emotions, setting him apart from his contemporaries. Join the playful banter to discover the magic behind this epic tale!

Support us here! You have six days to get the "year of Tolkien" thing we've been promising. Merry Christmas! Our heroes read two Russian Christmas stories: Tolstoy's “Where Love is God is there also” and Dostoyevsky's “Beggar Boy at Christ’s Christmas Tree." Um, they weren't that great. But it's still a fun little Christmas episode with some discussion of short stories. So yay! Next week War and Peace, baby.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★