Read Between the Spines

Send us Fan Mail Trinity is back, along with a new character, Hillary. They join me in covering Chapters 5-7 from the first volume of the 1831 edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein . The three of us discuss storytelling through the use of letters, and dissect Mary Shelley’s expression of her own ideas through her characters. These chapters depict the beginning of the slow decay in Victor’s e...

Send us Fan Mail Trinity and Rahul, who you'll recognize as returning characters from last season, join me in covering Chapters 3 and 4 from the first volume of the 1831 edition, of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein . We debate Victor’s actions and begin to see Mary’s use of nature in demonstrating parallels throughout his journey. The line between passion and obsession has been drawn and cros...

Send us Fan Mail The characters of Read Between the Spines begin our most ambitious reading yet- a Classic. Undertaking Mary Shelley's gothic masterpiece, Frankenstein, we embark on a journey where we question the depth of horror and humanity, the roles of femininity, and the cost of ambition without restraint.  Michael, Chris, and I are your characters in Episode 1. Together we set sail on a...

Send us Fan Mail In RBTS's first Special Edition episode, Lex and Kim go to the cottage! Joined by Brad and Justin, not only do we discuss the hit book and show, Heated Rivalry, by Rachel Reid, but "Brustin" also shares their true, queer, hockey romance and gives us an example of a real-life "Hollanov." Gay hockey romance isn't just for fiction, folks! This story has...

Send us Fan Mail We discuss the role selfishness plays in humanity's perpetuation, the Taumoeba demonstrate there is no end goal to evolution, and we experience the implications of adaptability by any means necessary.  Our final episode of Season Two answers the one question we have been wondering since day one - will Rocky and Ryland succeed in their mission? Rachel and Michael join me in di...

Send us Fan Mail Michael and I are joined by his brother, Rafael, who we learn is a fan of Ryland Grace! I guess people like that do exist.  Ryan Gosling is mentioned, and what would this podcast's identity be if we didn't discuss Stormlight Archives. We even talk a little bit about Project Hail Mary! (Twas an episode of side tangents). Chapters 25 - 27 are summarized in our penultimate...

Send us Fan Mail The lights are out, and we are neck deep in Taumoeba waste. Certain characters demonstrate the dangers of dating coworkers (who knew it could be that explosive?), and I discover Michael Sears may be even more intense than Stratt... Rachel Schutes joins Michael and I through Chapters 22 - 24 of Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir.  00:00:00 Intro 00:01:58 Errors 00:04:07 Ch. 22 00:18:3...

Send us Fan Mail Finally! Someone to explain time dilation! Our guest host, Rahul, illuminates us on some of the more complicated sciences of space travel, and Lex enjoys the soapbox tangent she embarks on regarding her favorite subject, evolution.  Rahul Bhakta joins Rachel and I in discussing Chapters 19 - 21 of Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir. We find Rocky and Ryland planning their visit to Ad...

Send us Fan Mail We struggle to understand time and Mom points out how fast Ryland is running out of it.  Pressured with the weight of his mission, Rocky and Ryland set out for a new planet - Adriaaaaaan!  Haley, Shelly, and I (with a few guest appearances from our Episode 1 guest host!) grasp at straws during the science bits and rip on the story at the rest. Although Haley can barely stand the f...

Send us Fan Mail While Michael and I are joined by guest host, Trinity Hardy Stukey, Ryland Grace is busy getting a new roommate. As we continually follow Ryland's journey into the stars and into his past, we attempt to understand neutrinos and recognize this story's ode to companionship, in our discussion of Chapters 13 - 15 of Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir. Though guessing at future...

Send us Fan Mail Is there anything creepier than hearing a knock when you are convinced no one should be near you? Our brave Dr. Grace answers the door nevertheless, and we are introduced to another hero. It is also evident that sleep is necessary even in the midst of extraterrestrial meet and greets. Rachel, Chris, and I discuss the relationship between music, math, and human emotion, ponder the...

Send us Fan Mail I'm sure none of us were shocked to discover aliens, this is a space book after all! But twice?! Join Keagan, Gabi, and I in uncovering just what Ryland saw when he encountered ANOTHER spaceship...12 lightyears from home. We also play, quite possibly, the most epic game of catch in the universe. Episode 3 covers Ch. 7 - 9 of Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir.  00:00 Intro 01:51...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back, Michael, our beloved host from Season 1! Kim Campbell graces us with her bubbly and inquisitive nature as our second guest host of the season. This episode, Ryland's memory continues to return and shares the heart of his mission with us. Michael relates to Ryland through teaching, Kim questions the size of a cubic meter, and we all contemplate the true size of o...

Send us Fan Mail We're back for a second season! What are we reading? Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir. You'll hear a familiar voice, Haley, joined by our first guest host of the season, Jack McCrary! We find ourselves disoriented, undergoing flashbacks, and...in space? Discussions and predictions abound in our first episode covering Chapters 1-3.  00:00:00 Intro 00:01:04 Welcome back! 00...

Send us Fan Mail *SPOILER WARNING: Skip minutes 10:00-13:00 to avoid spoilers from the novel, Rhythm of War , the fourth installment of The Stormlight Archives. " After finishing all recordings for Season 1, Michael, Haley, and I discuss what we did, or did not, enjoy about The Eye of the World, the differences between listening to the audiobook versus reading the story, and discover how ofte...

Send us Fan Mail Our hero may fight Darkfriends, Trollocs, even the Forsaken, but can he fight his destiny? In our finale, we find lost relics, meet a mystical being, and enter an uncertain and dangerous future. Haley, Michael, and I discuss our differing preparation methods for recordings, as well as finally finish, The Eye of the World, covering Ch. 50 - 53.  00:00:00 Intro 00:00:28 Lessons from...

Send us Fan Mail Long anticipated answers are revealed about our favorite stone-faced warder hero, as well as a look into his heart. Michael, Haley, and I travel into the fringe of the Dark One's realm and experience no shortage of monsters. The penultimate episode of season one covers Chapters 47 - 49 of The Eye of the World.  00:00:12 Intro 00:00:27 Ch. 47 More Tales of the Wheel 00:23:12 C...

Send us Fan Mail We take a magical portal to a hero's homeland, identify the group's stalker, and enter the realm of our sworn enemy.  We were shown how terrible and fearsome darkness can be, but were reminded how beauty, hope, and nature can be found in all landscapes using one of the world's most effective weapons - perspective.  Haley gets her horror fix and predicts one of more...

Send us Fan Mail We encounter an entirely different sort of Power from the True Source - politics. Threatened with a growing number of enemies, our reunited friends plan for the challenges ahead.  Leave it to Michael, the middle school teacher, to remind Haley and I that these, are in fact, still kids, as we theorize the nature of the Eye of the World while discussing Chapters 40 - 42.  00:00:00 I...

Send us Fan Mail Our situation gets better for some, but questionably worse for others...future chapters will tell (which MOST of our hosts have not read during this recording, ahem!).  Michael, Haley, and I experience one of the many anticipated reunions and finally set eyes upon the legendary False Dragon in The Eye of the World, covering Ch. 37 - 39.  00:00 Intro 00:38 Ch. 37 The Long Chase 11:...

Send us Fan Mail We meet more Darkfriends than we care to but more friends that we do, earn Loial-ties, and finally, reach our destination... Caemlyn.  Michael, Haley, and I reach the half-way point of The Eye of the World, covering Ch. 33 - 36.  00:00 Intro 01:11 Ch. 33 The Dark Waits 10:46 Ch. 34 The Last Village 25:06 Ch. 35 Caemlyn 34.08 Ch. 36 Web of the Pattern 54:52 Outro + Credits + A Tast...

Send us Fan Mail We sing, we eat, we even fight...but we mainly run. Fast. Michael, Haley, and I finish Episode 4 covering chapters 29 - 32. 00:00 Intro 00:58 Ch. 29 Eyes Without Pity 20:05 Ch. 30 Children of Shadow 35:51 Ch. 31 Play for Your Supper 41:07 Ch. 32 Four Kings in Shadow 56:20 Outro + Credits Want to support? Become a member at patreon.com/readbetweenthespines ! Follow and message us a...

Send us Fan Mail We meet a nomadic group who lives by an interesting philosophy, say a few goodbyes (permanently?! surely not...), and hold out hope for a speedy reunion for our heroes. The danger is mounting... Michael, Haley, and I learn we can easily take three hours to record an episode. Episode 4 Part II will cover the second half of our recording, covering Ch. 29 - 32.  00:00 Intro 00:58 Ch....

Send us Fan Mail Michael, Rachel, and I summarize and discuss Chapters 17-24. We learn some Two Rivers history, travel to scary places, meet more frightening characters, all before the group unintentionally separates.  00:00:00 Intro + Podcast Adjustments 00:01:36 Ch. 17 Watchers and Hunters 00:07:44 Ch. 18 The Caemlyn Road 00:16:45 Ch. 19 Shadow's Waiting 00:27:15 Ch. 20 Dust on the Wind 00:...

Send us Fan Mail Haley, Michael, and I leave Two Rivers, head into Baerlon, and discuss the travels and characters encountered thus far.  00:00:00 Intro 00:00:35 9-16...Where are we? 00:02:30 Monsters 00:03:30 Rand...do we like him, or...? 00:05:45 Moiraine's Show at the Ferry 00:07:15 Nynaeve's Age 00:08:00 Rand is Jealous 00:09:20 Min 00:11:00 Dreams and Creeps 00:12:35 Meaning in Acti...