Functionally Literate: The Book Club Podcast

(7/8) Essun discovers an underground crystal city. Syenite and Alabaster get settled in Meov and take a lover. Link dump: The Hunger Games Stranger Things Read along with us! You can buy the book here . You can also support us on ⁠⁠ Patreon ⁠⁠ for $1 and get access to an exclusive ad-free Spotify feed! Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠ PayPal ⁠⁠. Produced, directed, and edited by: Ryan Carter Host...

(6/8) We discover a comm like no other. Syenite wakes on an island. Damaya makes a discovery that will impact the rest of her life. Read along with us! You can buy the book here . Support us on ⁠⁠ Patreon⁠⁠ and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠ PayPal ⁠⁠. Produced, directed, and edited by: Ryan Carter Hosted by: Ryan Carter & Julia Carney Audio recordist: Chris D. Mooney...

(5/8) Syenite discovers a new toy, then breaks it. Hoa is having a hard time tracking our daughter as easily as he used to. Read along with us! You can buy the book here . Support us on ⁠⁠ Patreon ⁠⁠ and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠ PayPal ⁠⁠. Produced, directed and edited by: Ryan Carter Hosted by: Ryan Carter & Julia Carney Audio recordist: Chris D. Mooney Theme mu...

(4/8) Something is missing! Do you know what it is? Also, what is up with those obelisks and stone eaters? These mysteries are so enticing. Read along with us! You can buy the book here . Support us on  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a dollar! Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PayPal ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Produced, directed and edited by: Ryan Carter Hosted by: Ryan Carter & Julia Carney Audio Recordist: Chris D....

(3/8) This is a juicy one, folks. True colors are revealed! Secrets of the Stillness are discovered. Speculations about Guardians are made. Read along with us! You can buy the book here . Link dump: The City We Became Red (Taylor's Version) Red Rising You can support us on ⁠⁠ Patreon⁠⁠ for $1 per month! Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠ PayPal ⁠⁠. All proceeds will go toward books, overhead, a...

(2/8) Ryan and Julia are really starting to get into the book now. They feel like they know who the players are, but they're still figuring out the game...though, that's not stopping them from coming up with a hypothesis about the plot. Read along with us! Buy the book here . Link dump (AKA books we mentioned): The Way of Kings [ Physical / Audio ] Crescent City [ Physical / Audio ] If you...

(1/8) Join Ryan and Julia (her first episode!) as they chat about The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin. We dive into the Stillness, a world under constant threat of earthquakes. We kick things off with the end of the world, both literally and for one of our main characters. Read along with us! Buy the book here . Link dump (AKA books we mentioned): The City We Became [ ⁠ Physical⁠ / ⁠ Audio ⁠ ] If yo...

The boys conclude dipping their toes into Eastern Mythology. Zach talks about Izanami and Izanagi, the birth of Kagu-tsuchi, the god of fire, and the adventures of Susanoo, the Storm God. Zach's source is The Holy Kojiki . Ryan's source is The Japanese Myths: A Guide to Gods, Heroes and Spirits , by Joshua Frydman. Next episode, Ryan and Julia will be reading The Fifth Season ! Nab yoursel...

Zach tells the story of Guan Yu, the God of War. Ryan tells the story Magical Arts , a tale about a rich man and a Necromancer, and then discusses the Immortal Eight, people who ascended to godhood by attaining the "secret wisdom." The book our stories comes from is Chinese Myths and Folk Tales , a compendium of public domain works sold as a single book by Barnes & Noble. Support us on ⁠⁠ Patr...

(2/2) The boys talk about meditation, prayer, the remainder of the Buddha's life and his death, and tell two jatakas, short stories from the Buddha's past lives. Zach's source is  Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists , by Ananda K. Coomaraswamy and Sister Nivedita. Ryan's source is  Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction , by Damien Keown, and Buddhisms: An Introduction , by John S. Strong. Support us o...

(1/2) The boys discuss Buddhism. This episode is about the Buddha's journey to enlightenment, how he attained Nirvana in life and the 4 Noble Truths as discussed in the first sermon he delivered. Zach's source is  Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists , by Ananda K. Coomaraswamy and Sister Nivedita. Ryan's source is Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction , by Damien Keown. Support us on ⁠⁠ Patreon⁠⁠  and...

(3/3) We conclude our telling of the tale of Balin le Savage, the Knight with the Two Swords. Balin defeats the Invisible Knight, delivers the dolorous stroke, and travels to an island where he fights his best friend to the death. Also, Cara provides us with a moral of the story. Read along with us! Zach is reading ⁠⁠a version of the text⁠⁠ adapted into modern idiom. Ryan is reading a more archaic...

(2/3) Sir Balin helps bury a dead damsel, succeeds in his quest for redemption, aids King Arthur in his war against 11 kings, and begins a new quest to find the Invisible Knight. Read along with us! Zach is reading ⁠⁠⁠a version of the text⁠⁠⁠ adapted into modern idiom. Ryan is reading a more archaic version of the text that you can ⁠⁠⁠download digitally⁠⁠⁠ for free. Support us on  ⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠ and...

(1/3) We follow the exploits of Balin le Savage, the Knight with the Two Swords. Balin is freed from prison, obtains his second sword, commits a heinous act in King Arthur's court, and sets out on a quest to redeem himself. Read along with us! Zach is reading ⁠⁠⁠a version of the text⁠⁠⁠ adapted into modern idiom. Ryan is reading a more archaic version of the text that you can ⁠⁠⁠download digitally...

(2/2) Ryan continues to tell various Hindu stories while Zach provides color commentary. Zach's source is  Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists , by Ananda K. Coomaraswamy and Sister Nivedita. Ryan's source is  Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals from the Heart of the Subcontinent , by Devdutt Pattanaik. Support us on ⁠⁠ Patreon ⁠⁠ and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠...

(1/2) Zach tells the story of Hanuman, the Monkey King. Ryan tells many various Hindu stories. Zach's source is Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists , by Ananda K. Coomaraswamy and Sister Nivedita. Ryan's source is Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals from the Heart of the Subcontinent , by Devdutt Pattanaik. Support us on ⁠⁠ Patreon ⁠⁠ and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation o...

(3/3) The conclusion of King Arthur's origin story. Arthur battles with King Pellinore, begats Mordred, and obtains Excalibur. Read along with us! Zach is reading ⁠⁠⁠a version of the text⁠⁠⁠ adapted into modern idiom. Ryan is reading a more archaic version of the text that you can ⁠⁠⁠download digitally⁠⁠⁠ for free. Support us on ⁠⁠ Patreon ⁠⁠ and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation o...

(2/3) Arthur goes to war with 11 kings (well, 10 kings and a duke, but who's counting?). Read along with us! Zach is reading ⁠⁠a version of the text⁠⁠ adapted into modern idiom. Ryan is reading a more archaic version of the text that you can ⁠⁠download digitally⁠⁠ for free. Support us on ⁠⁠ Patreon ⁠⁠ and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠ PayPal ⁠⁠. Produced, directed and edi...

(1/3) The boys begin their foray into Arthurian Legend. In this episode, we learn about the events leading to the birth of Arthur, the Sword in the Stone, and his coronation as King of England. Read along with us! Zach is reading ⁠a version of the text⁠ adapted into modern idiom. Ryan is reading a more archaic version of the text that you can ⁠download digitally⁠ for free. Link dump: The Once and...

Ryan discusses the family tree of the Egyptian gods. Zach tells the story of the god Osiris. Ryan's source is Egyptian Myths: A Guide to the Ancient Gods and Legends , by Garry J. Shaw. Zach's source is Gods and Myths of Ancient Egypt , by Robert A. Armour. Support us on ⁠⁠ Patreon ⁠⁠ and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠ PayPal⁠⁠ . Produced, directed and edited by: Ryan Cart...

Zach tells the story of the coming of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and the origins of Cú Chulainn. Ryan reveals a personal discovery, and talks about the murder of Bridget Cleary. Zach's source is Lady Gregory's Complete Irish Mythology . Ryan's source is Celtic Myths and Legends by Charles Squire. Support us on ⁠⁠ Patreon ⁠⁠ and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠ PayPal ⁠⁠. Produced...

(2/2) Ryan tells the story of the Master Builder (we got giants!) and a short story called Blue of Blue. Zach tells the story of Thor's (fake) wedding. Ryan's sources are Across the Rainbow Bridge , by Kevin Crossley-Holland, and Norse Mythology , by Neil Gaiman. Zach's sources are the Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda . Support us on ⁠⁠ Patreon ⁠⁠ and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donatio...

(1/2) Ryan & Zach talk about how Odin lost his eye, and how Thor obtained his hammer. Ryan's sources are Across the Rainbow Bridge , by Kevin Crossley-Holland, and Norse Mythology , by Neil Gaiman. Zach's sources are the Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda . Support us on ⁠ Patreon ⁠ and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation on ⁠PayPal⁠ . Produced, directed and edited by: Ryan Carter Ho...

(2/2) This episode the boys talk about Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus, the creation of humanity, and the worst portrayal of women. Ryan is reading from Mythos , by Stephen Fry. Zach is reading from Metamorphoses , by Ovid and The Poems of Hesiod: Theogony, Works and Days, and the Shield of Herakles , by Barry B. Powell. Support us on Patreon and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time dona...

Ryan and Zach introduce themselves and figure out what this podcast is going to be all about. Producer: Ryan Carter Director: Ryan Carter Hosted by: Ryan Carter & Zach Ignotz Audio Recordist: Chris D. Mooney Editor: Ryan Carter Theme music by Jake Weller. Listen to Jake's album, Wasting Time. Special thanks to Vidwest Studios for providing some equipment and a recording space. (00:00) Introduc...