Literary Ramblings

On this episode, Joe, Scott, Wes, and Kevin discuss The New York Times Book Review 's top-ranked book of the 21st century. They explore the novel’s enduring appeal, widespread popularity, and critical acclaim, while also venturing into related topics such as pseudonymous authors and artists, the HBO adaptation, and more. As always, the podcast features original music by Sam Muccio, along with...

In this episode, Joe, Wes, Scott, and Kevin dive into James Hogg’s 1824 Scottish masterpiece, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner . Their conversation explores the novel’s strikingly modern, even proto-postmodern qualities, its surprising parallels with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein , and its use of the “found manuscript” literary trope. Along the way, they examine the book’s u...

In this bonus short, Joe reflects on three contemporary novels— Lush Life , Playground , and The Fraud —all drawn from a reading list shared by Ann Patchett. While each book engages directly with major issues like gentrification, AI, and colonialism, the episode asks a larger question: should literary fiction be defined by its response to current events? Joe offers a brief overview of each novel b...

This special episode of the podcast was recorded live at the Blue Couch Bookshop in Columbus, Ohio. Because the discussion centers on a critical conversation about Joe Hecker’s new novel I Ain’t a Girl , Wes Scott and Kevin take the first half of the episode on their own, discussing the book without Joe present. In the second half, Joe joins the conversation for a Q&A about the novel, the writ...

In this Bonus Short, Joe discusses Don Carpenter’s 1966 novel Hard Rain Falling . He explores Carpenter’s background, the novel’s existential struggles, and Carpenter’s possible place within the Beat Generation and the West Coast experimental writers of his time. Joe also considers the novel’s search for shelter from the “hard rain,” and much more. He closes by promoting his novel I Ain’t a Girl ,...

In this episode, Joe, Wes, Scott, and Kevin dive into Marilynne Robinson’s 2005 Pulitzer Prize–winning novel Gilead . Their conversation explores themes of reconciliation and forgiveness, the role of religion in fiction, the moral responsibilities of parents, and the quiet dignity—and possible cost—of an unassuming life. As always, the episode features original music composed and performed by Sam...

In this episode, Joe, Wes, Scott, and Kevin dive into Peter Matthiessen’s 2008 National Book Award–winning novel, Shadow Country . The conversation explores the construction of truth, the challenges of writing beyond one’s lived experience, what defines historical fiction—and whether Shadow Country truly qualifies—as well as the concept of the Jungian shadow and much more. The episode also feature...

In this special episode, Joe, Wes, Scott, and Kevin dive into a wide-ranging conversation about the act of reading, who’s doing it, and why literary fiction—however you define it—remains essential. This episode also features the premiere of our original podcast music composed and performed by Sam Muccio.

In this episode, Joe, Scott, Wes, and Kevin discuss Thomas Pynchon's 2025 novel, Shadow Ticket . At 88 years old, Pynchon gives us another gem which we compare and contrast with his previous work, discuss who might follow in the footsteps of master's like Pynchon, delve into the cheese scandals of the 1930s and much more...

In this episode, Joe, Wes, Scott and Kevin discuss the German postmodern writer Arno Schmidt and dive into what exactly postmodern literature is and what value it may or may not have.

In this episode, Joe, Scott, Wes, and Kevin discuss Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian . We discuss the Judge, the Kid, the nature of violence as presented by McCarthy, why there are no women in the nevel, the influence of Faulkner and Melville, and much more...

In this episode, Joe, Scott, Wes, and Kevin discuss Kazuo Ishiguro's 2005 dystopian novel, Never Let Me Go . We discuss questions around what it actually means to be human, the ethical treatment of others, what exactly is YA, style vs content, and much more...

In this episode, Joe, Scott, Wes, and Kevin discuss Rodrigo Fresán's 2022 work, Melvill . The post-modern biography centers on Herman Melville and his father who died after crossing the frozen Hudson River. We discuss Fresán's structure and playfulness, his many many literary allusions, the "bad father" trope, and much more...

In this episode, Joe, Scott, Wes, and Kevin discuss Roberto Bolaño's 2004 work, 2666 . This 900+ page work has been hailed Bolaño's masterpiece and one of the most significant novels of the 21st century. We discuss Bolaño's work as a post-Boom reaction to writers like García Márquez, the strength and weaknesses of each of the five sections, our favorite post- modern digressions and much more...

In this Bonus Short, Wes shares his thoughts on José Donoso's The Obscene Bird of Night (1970). Wes helps us understand the complicated and twisting tale of this postmodern novel of identity and offers insight into the themes and ideas Donoso is working with.

In this episode, Joe, Scott, Wes, and Kevin discuss Benjamín Labatut's 2020 work, When We Cease to Understand the World . The work is ranked 83rd on the NYT's list of The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. We focus on Labatut's strange blending of fiction and nonfiction and the way this parallels particle superposition in Quantum Mechanics, what happens to scientists when they look in...

In this Bonus Short, Joe shares his thoughts on Percival Everett's James (2024). Joe discusses Everett's choices in diverging substantially from the plot line and time period of Huck Finn where Everett's title character first appears in literature. Joe further discusses the value of Twain's Huck Finn and what Everett's novel introduces to the conversation.

In this Bonus Short, Kevin shares his thoughts on Hanif Abdurraqib's There's Always This Year (2024). Kevin discusses Abdurraqib's ability to move us from one image to another and to carry us to unexpected places.

In this episode, Joe, Scott, Wes, and Kevin discuss Ian McEwan's 2001 novel, Atonement . The novel is ranked 26th on the NYT's list of The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. We focus on the reliability of narration, the responsibility a person has for choices they make, the potential for forgiveness and atonement, the power of an author and much more...

In this Bonus Short, Wes shares his thoughts on William T Vollmann's Imperial (2009). While this work blends genres, it is primarily a work of nonfiction that explores history and sociopolical issues around the US/Mexico border.

In this Bonus Short, Joe shares his thoughts on Herman Melville's classic novel, Moby Dick. Joe discusses the novel's classic interpretation, how the 19th century whaling industry looks from today's environmental perspective and more...

In this episode, Joe, Scott, Wes, and Kevin discuss Sherwood Anderson's 1919 collection of interconnected stories, Wineburg, Ohio . We focus on how this book influenced modernism and exposes the underbelly of small town life. We also touch on Anderson's themes of isolation, existential angst, how societal norms often stifle free expression and more.

In this Bonus Short, Kevin shares his thoughts on Powers' The Overstory and then adds some brief comments on Markley's The Deluge. Kevin considers how these books merge popular fiction and literary fiction, their attempts to merge message with story and much more.

In this Bonus Short, Wes shares his review of the German novel Bottom's Dream by Arno Schmidt. The novel was translated into English by John E. Woods in 2016. Wes discusses the unusual nature of this work, it's postmodern aspects, tips on how to work through it, how Schmidt is influenced by Joyce, and much more.

In this Bonus Short, Joe visits with James Thurber expert Steve Andersson. Joe and Steve offers a brief introduction to James Thurber including discussions around Thurber's writings and drawings, his time at The New Yorker, his friendship with E. B. White, his relationship with The Ohio State University, the mission of the Thurber House, and more.