Required Reading

This week we revisit the Gothic Horror, Bildungsroman, potential black comedy, Victorian Middle Class novel that is Jane Eyre. This was Nic's selection for the book he read in high school and hated, but will a reread make it better? It certainly won't make it shorter!  From the back of the Penguin Classics Edition (where the cover art comes from as well): "A novel of intense power and intrigue, Ja...

This week on Required Reading we revisit dental trauma as we talk Smile by Raina Telgemeier.  From the jacket: "Raina Telgemeier's #1 New York Times bestselling, Eisner Award-winning graphic memoir based on her childhood! Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating j...

This episode of Required Reading, we dive into the haunting masterpiece Beloved by Toni Morrison. This complex narrative is an incredible piece of American Fiction, African American literature, and magical realism; truly a remarkable novel.  Host: Nic Hoffmann Co-host: Mike Burns Panel: Chase Thompson  

This episode of Required Reading we talk about the western classic, Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather. This classic of the 1920s is an American novel highlighting the creation of a southwestern diocese, involving interesting characters, good discussions and a crisis of faith. Also, a book we almost couldn't record on we struggled so much with, until we had a great discussion on it.  H...

This week on Required Reading we talk about A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, so gird your valves and stay out of the French Quarter! Thanks for indulging in our little Holiday Break! We are back with two episodes a month for the foreseeable future! Thanks for all you do to make us the success we are! Host: Nic Hoffmann Co-host: Mike Carroll Panel: Betsy Holcomb

This week we read the Christmas Classic that you have been expecting since the beginning, we talk A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The traditional Christmas tale made famous by the likes of Michael Caine, Bill Murray, Patrick Stewart, Alistair Slim, and Mr. Magoo. We talk the ins and outs of poultry factory farming, hauntings, and Nic resists the urge to do a bad Michael Caine impression; tho...

This episode we talk The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien. We battle, we make friends, and talk orcs, rings, and talking trees.  Robert von Hagen returns to help me in this complex world. Can we get to the bottom of the towers? Gollum? In honor of the 20th anniversary of the film, we revisit Middle Earth and get into Beowulf, the long version, The Lord of the Rings: The Two To...

In honor of Veterans Day and the end of World War I, this episode we get depressed and read All Quiet on the Western Front by Enrich Maria Remarque, the only book I know of titled after the final line of the novel. The book is a classic of war literature set in World War I and narrated by a German soldier. Good enough to get banned and burned by Hitler, watch the new Netflix version or the classic...

This week we follow up Frankenstein: the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley with a Modern retelling! In honor of the abysmal end to a franchise that was Jurassic World Dominion, we talk about the book that started it all Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton; the reason I know anything about Cray Supercomputers.  We, of course talk about the book and compare it to the legendary Spielberg movie (starrin...

This week on Required Reading we delve into Gothic Horror and read Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley (possibly revised by Percy Shelley). Not only does this fill our horror quota for October, but allows us to segue into a modern retelling as next week we discuss the highly topical Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton.  Please continue to share and review! Also, if you are interest...

This week, we visit the stars above! We read The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell this episode of Required Reading. In a remarkable piece of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Anthropology and Catholicism, the Sparrow is a story of triumphs and trials and it is all the more incredible for doing so.  As we have done all season, I will be sharing the next book. In October we will be covering a classic horror tale and it...

This week we read the most recent piece of fiction yet! With the plot hinging on 9/11, we read Jonathan Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. We cover this non-traditional narrative and get to the bottom of a key in a vase.  We thank you for following us! In an effort to keep you reading, next week we will cover The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, a sci-fi novel about Jesuits, space travel an...

This week on Required Reading, we learn the answer to life, the universe, and everything. We read The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Join us, won't you? And don't forget to bring a towel. If you want to read along with us, consider purchasing the book through our link The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams . Also, announcing the next book will be Extremely Loud An...

As we return, in triumph, to season three, we begin with an American Classic, and my vote for the greatest American Novel. We talk To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and shoot all the bluejays we want. Something new this year! First, we will be telling you about the books in advance, so you can read with us! The first book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, purchasing the books through our...

Hello! Time for something a bit more unsettling. Every term three, we cover a graphic novel where students in group pick and discuss. For the past two years, one of our most popular is My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf, a cartoonist who went to school with Jeffery Dahmer. Since the students chose it, I let them talk about it on the show. Enjoy. Panel: Nic Hoffmann, Marshall Grisik, Conner Self, an...

After promising months ago, issues with hackers, and AP Exams, I have returned, battered, but not beaten with The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring: Book 2. Mike, Mike, and Robert are back with me as  Gandalf and Boromir die and a Hobbit shows incredible bravery.  I read a selection from the chapter "the Bridge of Khazad Dum." If you are not interested, skip about 8.5 minutes after th...

This week, we follow Tim O'Brien into the dark of Vietnam. I have included a reading from the chapter "How to Tell a War Story," and hope you appreciate the first guest spot filled by David Negus, the person who taught me parts of the book as a student. Enjoy.  Also, I apologize for the lateness of the release. Our previous hosting was hacked and we have now joined the Podbean family.  - Nic Panel...

This week we get mildly depressed talking about The Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. A book about having all the wrong dreams, insurance, and how to handle produce. Panel: Dr. Nic Hoffmann, Mike Burns, and Principal Kevin Mullaly. If you want to hear Nic talk about this on another excellent podcast, listen here Read More

This week on Required Reading, we encounter pure evil and fix-to-make a stupid decision. We talk No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy with Matt Romano. Since it is Academy Awards Month, we beg the question, is there a hero here and is this one of the best book adaptation ever?

This week on Required Reading, in honor of the upcoming Academy Awards, we are covering another book! Well, this one was adapted into a movie that won Best Picture and was a fairly accurate version of the text, so there! The full episode will drop on the 15th, but to get you in the mood, Read More

This week, we attempt to grasp The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien, but spend so much time with book 1, we decide to come back next week for book 2! So, come with us as we extol the virtues of scaring your relatives, going to taverns, and Read More

k, in order to prepare for the The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Lucas Farach will read a section of Book 1, Chapter 2, for you. Please enjoy and join us next week for The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring.

This month we complete the book exchange with my selection for Mike Burns, the classic of Gonzo journalism Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and we learn seven things: “1) Never trust a cop in a raincoat.2) Beware of enthusiasm and of love, both are temporary and quick to sway.3) If asked if you care Read More

In honor of the upcoming episode on Fear in Loathing in Las Vegas, we have a selection from chapter one being read by our very own Olivia Kincaid. The music is “Actionable” by Bensound used under the creative commons license. Find all his music on https://www.bensound.com/

To get everyone in the mood for the episode on the play and the new Coen movie, the Tragedy of Macbeth, we have Denzel Washington performing the “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” soliloquy. Enjoy, Nic