Close Reads Podcast

Join David, Heidi, and Karen Swallow Prior as they answer your questions about Jane Austen's novel. And if you like this episode be sure to leave a review. Those 5-star reviews go a long way. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscri...

Join David, Heidi, and special guest Karen Swallow Prior as they discuss the final chapters of Sense and Sensibility . Conversation touches on whether Edward deserved Elinor, Marianne's evolution, Elinor's most of catharsis, and the reversal of the book's beginning. Remember: subscribe, rate, review! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like...

Join David, Heidi, and special guest Karen Swallow Prior for a conversation about Marianne's growth, Willougby's villainy, Edward's issues, and the balance of satire and pathos in a book like this. Remember: subscribe, rate, review! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episod...

Join David, Heidi, and very special guest, Karen Swallow Prior, as they chat about volume 2 of Jane Austen's classic novel. Conversation focuses on which character most bears the essence of the novel, whether there are any ideal types in the book, and the characterization that makes Austen so important (and amazing). Remember: Subscribe, rate, review! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out...

David, Heidi, and special guest, Karen Swallow Prior are back with more conversation about Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility. Conversation touches on the differences between Elinor and Marianne, the similarities in their situations and responses, Edward and Willougby, and much more. Remember: subscribe, RATE, review! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public e...

This week, David, Heidi, and special guest, Karen Swallow Prior, dive ever-deeper into the world of Jane Austen's classic first novel. Discussion touches on the languid pacing of this middle section, the question of stakes, the various binaries Austen asks us to consider, and much more. Remember: Subscribe, rate, review! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public e...

Further up and further (as they say)! Join David, Heidi, and special guest Karen Swallow Prior (author of the much-loved book,  On Reading Well) as they continue their discussion of Jane Austen's classic novel. Topics of conversation include: How the irony and satire in the book ought to be read for each character, how Jane Austen portrays her male characters, the question of making judgments as r...

Join David, Heidi, and special guest, Karen Swallow Prior (author of the much-loved book, On Reading Well) for this new series of shows about Jane Austen's classic novel. In this episode they discuss Austen's use of irony and satire, her genius point-of-view techniques, the purpose of a comedy of manners, and much, much more. Remember: If you like this show please subscribe, rate, and review! See...

It's question and answer time! Join David, Adam, and Heidi as they answer your questions about Little Britches. Remember: Subscribe, rate, review! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

It's time for the final chapters of Ralph Moody's Little Britches! In this episode, David, Heidi, and Adam discuss the denouement of Ralph's journey to manhood (and cowboyhood), the relationship between Ralph and his mother, the poignent moment in the finale, and much more! Remember: subscribe, rate, review! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If yo...

Welcome back! In this episode, David, Heidi, and Adam discuss the culmination of Ralph's story arc, parenting lessons from Little Britches , the important role of the horse/boy relationship in this book, the Cowboy dream, and much more. Remember: Subscribe, rate, review! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other su...

Welcome back! In this episode David Kern, Adam Andrews, and Heidi White discuss Ralph Moody's stated intentions for this book, what we as readers (and parents/teachers) ought to do with those intentions, and how those intentions impact the book's literary place. Plus some other stuff, of course. Remember: Subscribe, rate, review! If you like Close Reads please be sure to give it the ol' 5-star rev...

David, Heidi, and Adam are back with further discussion about Ralph Moody's Little Britches . Conversation touches on the dangers of romanticizing or idealizing the past, the difficulty of parenting, the key moment in Ralph's journey to get Two Dog, and the ongoing saga of the water rights. Remember: Subscribe, rate, review! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a publ...

Conversation in this week's episode touches on the theme of parenting in the book, Ralph Moody's drive and desires, Western archetypes at play in the section, how Ralph's parents should have responded to his behavior, and more. Remember: subscribe, rate, review! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers...

And we're back to kick off a new series, with Ralph Moody's Little Britches ! Joining David and Heidi is Adam Andrews, from the Center for Lit. Conversation touches on the comparison between Little Britches and Little House on the Prairie , what Homer and Plato have to do with this story, Western stories in American lit, Moody's portrayal of his parents, and much more. Remember: subscribe, rate, r...

Join David, Heidi, and Tim for an in-depth time of answering listener questions! They talk heroism, other spy novels, the ambiguity of the ending, and much, much, much more. Remember: subscribe, rate, review!, See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.su...

Join David, Heidi, and Tim as they discuss the final chapters of John LeCarre's T he Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Conversation explores the novel's payoff, Liz and Leamas' relationship, good guys and bad guys, the complicated philosophies embedded in the book, and much more. Remember: subscribe, rate, review. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If...

Welcome back! This week David, Heidi, and Tim are chatting about chapters 13-20 of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold , with an especially deep dive into chapter 13, which is the thematic and dramatic core of the story. Watch out for the moment when Tim drops a fantastic new metaphor. Plus they offer a grateful farewell to a longtime contributor to the show. Remember: subscribe, rate, review! See a...

Welcome back! In this episode David, Heidi, and Tim discuss John LeCarre's classic spy novel some more, with a particular focus on the value of genre fiction in contemporary times, the concept of anti-heros, LeCarre's subtly, and much more, This episode is brought to you by New College Franklin! Learn more at newcollegefranklin.org . And remember: help us spread the word! Subscribe, rate, review!...

Welcome back! It's time to start a new book and we're finally diving into John LeCarre's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold . Discussions touches on the value of genre fiction, LeCarre's story, his artistry, the way he sets up his themes, and more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access...

We're back and we're answering YOUR questions about The Remains of the Day . We answer questions about the scene with the doctor, the root of Stevens' blindness, the duty/desire dichotomy, the role of food in the book, and much more! This episode is presented by New College Franklin. Learn more at newcollegefranklin.org . And remember: subscribe, rate, review! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and...

In which David, Heidi, and Tim discuss the ending to Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day. They discuss the heartbreaking nature of the book, what to make of Steven's final conversation with Mrs. Benn, whether he changed in the end, and much more. This episode is presented by New College Franklin. Learn more at newcollegefranklin.org . And remember: subscribe, rate, review! See acast.com/privac...

Welcome back. In this episode David, Heidi, and Tim continue their discussion of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel, Remains of the Day. Conversation some of the unique ways the novel's structure changes in this section, whether Stevens is a good butler, whether he has changed at all, the confessional nature of this chapter, and much more. This episode is brought to you by New College Franklin. Check them out...

We're back with more discussion about Kazuo Ishiguro's Remains of the Day. This week's conversation touches on Stevens' inner-turmoil, the complicated social changes at work in the novel, the interesting structural choices Ishiguro makes, and much more. This episode is brought to you by CLT, the classically-based alternative to the SAT and the ACT. Learn more at clt.org . Help us spread the word:...

Welcome back to Close Reads. In this episode David, Heidi, and Tim continue their discussion of Kazuo Ishiguro's Remains of the Day . Conversation explores the way Stevens' various personal relationships mirror the international politics in the story, Ishiguro's gift for subtext, the history of the age in which the story takes place, the ongoing theme of "professionalism", the American's place in...