The Big Book Project

In this final conversation on The Kindly Ones , I’m joined again by Tom Flynn to explore the last chaotic stretch of Jonathan Littell’s massive and deeply unsettling novel. We talk about the feverish pacing, the bizarre turns, and the chilling final scenes—from Max biting Hitler’s nose to the feral children in the woods. Does the book fall apart, or is it mirroring the collapse of the world it dep...

Why do some readers gravitate toward sprawling, ambitious novels that take weeks—or even months—to read? What is it about long books that makes them so immersive, so risky, and so rewarding? In this episode of The Big Book Project , Lori Feathers is joined once again by writer and professor James Elkins for an in-depth conversation about the magic and challenges of big books. They explore their pe...

https://substack.com/@thebigbookproject In this episode of The Big Book Project, Lori sits down with Brad Costa, sales representative for W.W. Norton and an extraordinary reader, to discuss Jonathan Littell’s The Kindly Ones. Brad brings a unique perspective as someone who worked in library archives with Holocaust materials, offering profound insights into the novel’s detailed depiction of bureauc...

In this episode of The Big Book Project , Lori Feathers is joined by Professor Dorian Stuber for a deep dive into Jonathan Littell’s The Kindly Ones . They explore the book’s place within Holocaust literature, its historical accuracy, and the challenges it poses to readers and educators alike. From the banality of evil to the controversial portrayal of sexual deviancy, Lori and Dorian unpack the t...

In this episode of The Big Book Project , Lori Feathers sits down with art historian, theorist, and novelist James Elkins to discuss his new book A Short Introduction to Anneliese published by Unnamed Press—the second novel in his five-volume literary experiment, Five Strange Languages . James shares the 20-year journey behind this sprawling, genre-defying project, its dizzying structure, overlapp...

Tom Flynn returns to The Big Book Project to continue our group read of Jonathan Littell’s The Kindly Ones —this time tackling pages 333–427, a harrowing descent into the frozen siege of Stalingrad. Lori and Tom unpack the disturbing realism and psychological depth of the novel, exploring themes of unreliable narration, classical tragedy, and the machinery of fascist ideology. They ask hard questi...

https://substack.com/@thebigbookproject In this episode of The Big Book Project, host Lori Feathers is joined by acclaimed translator David McKay to explore The Remembered Soldier, the haunting and deeply psychological novel by Anjet Daanje, newly released in English by New Vessel Press. This episode unpacks the long journey of bringing The Remembered Soldier from a small regional publisher in the...

https://substack.com/@thebigbookproject In this solo episode of The Big Book Project , host Lori Feathers returns to reflect on the latest section of Agaat by Marlene van Niekerk—around page 300—and dives into the nuanced layers of communication, legacy, and emotional power that define this extraordinary novel. As Milla’s physical condition deteriorates due to ALS, her only form of communication i...

In this special episode of The Big Book Project , host Lori Feathers is joined by Nanci McCloskey—Associate Publisher and Director of Sales & Marketing at Tin House Books—to kick off our next group read: Agaat by Marlene van Niekerk. 📚 Agaat is a psychological epic set in apartheid-era South Africa, told through the complex relationship between two women—Milla and Agaat. Originally published...

In this episode of The Big Book Project , Lori Feathers is joined by literary critic and bookseller Tom Flynn for an in-depth discussion of Roberto Bolaño’s 2666 . As we near the end of our 11-week deep dive, we explore the novel’s most compelling themes—literary obsession, systemic violence, and the enigmatic figure of Archimboldi. 📖 Key Topics Discussed: ✔️ Tom Flynn’s experience reading 2666 a...

In this episode of The Big Book Project , Lori Feathers unpacks one of the most haunting themes in Roberto Bolaño’s 2666 : the slow erosion of humanity in the face of systemic violence. Through the lens of The Part About Archimboldi , we explore the chilling parallels between Nazi Germany and the fictional town of Santa Teresa—modeled after the real-life femicides of Ciudad Juárez. Key Themes Disc...

https://substack.com/@thebigbookproject In this episode of The Big Book Project , Lori Feathers continues the deep dive into Roberto Bolaño’s 2666 , focusing on the second section of The Part About the Crimes . As the narrative unfolds, we examine the harrowing depiction of systemic complicity in the Santa Teresa femicides. From the corruption of the police and prison guards to the media’s role in...

In this gripping episode of The Big Book Project , host Lori Feathers dives into the most haunting and unrelenting section of Roberto Bolaño’s 2666 —The Part About the Crimes. This chapter confronts readers with a relentless account of femicides in the border town of Santa Teresa. Lori explores why Bolaño meticulously details the murders of more than 200 women—examining how individualizing victims...

In this episode of The Big Book Project , host Lori Feathers delves into Part Three of Roberto Bolaño’s 2666 , The Part About Fate . Through the lens of Oscar Fate’s journey, we explore themes of identity, violence, and the fragile boundary between reality and illusion. Key discussion points include: 🔹 Barry Seaman’s speech on fate, dreams, and semblances—what do the stars reveal about our percep...

 In this episode of The Big Book Project, we delve into the second half of Part One of Roberto Bolaño's 2666, focusing on the critics' journey to Mexico in search of the elusive author, Archimboldi. The episode explores several key themes, including the unsettling encounter with the self-mutilating artist, Edwin Johns, and his chilling philosophy on fate and coincidence. We delve into th...

Welcome to The Big Book Project, a multi-platform reading experience for lovers of long and intricate novels. Hosted by Lori Feathers, this podcast explores capacious works of fiction, ranging from 19th-century classics to contemporary masterpieces. These novels, rich in style, complex in structure, and abundant in themes, provide an unparalleled opportunity for collaborative reading and discussio...