The Essential Reads

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podHuckleberry Finn by Mark Twain chapter 14, narrated by Isaac BirchallAfter finally waking up, Jim and Huck go through the loot of the gang members. They find are as rich as they have ever been and while smoking cigars that they found, Huck tells Jim all about the gang members. Jim then proceeds to tell Jim about kings and royalty, and Jim is v...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podHuckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, chapter 13. narrated by Isaac BirchallHuck and Jim are in a spot of trouble their raft has snapped loose and they need to find their way across the ship to try and steal the Gang members’ skiff. Eventually they see it, but right next to Huck the door slams open and the gang members clamber into their boat. They...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podHuckleberry Finn by Mark Twain chapter 12, narrated by Isaac BirchallJim and Huck finally make their way past the end of the island, and they realise that in their hurry, they forgot to load anything in the canoe, everything is in the raft. In the day, they pull up on a towhead, and they spend their morning watching the steamboats go by as Huc...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podHuckleberry Finn by Mark Twain chapter 11, narrated by Isaac BirchallThe woman invites Huck into her home, and he lies about his name to her, and makes up some lies about how he ended up in the town this late at night. She invites Huck to spend the night with her, and he refuses outright. The woman then goes on to explain her family life, and...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podHuckleberry Finn by Mark Twain chapter 10, narrated by Isaac BirchallAfter breakfast, Huck wants to talk about what they saw on the boat, but Jim tells him no, claiming that they would be haunted if they did and that it would be dreadful bad luck. Huck jests at Jim, saying that Jim already claimed that bad luck would be on its way because Huck...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podHuckleberry Finn by Mark Twain chapter 9, narrated by Isaac BirchallHuck and Jim go to the centre of the island to try and find a cave that Huck found on his first couple of days. It’s large and cool and would be the perfect place for them to camp out while they think about what they’re going to do next. Just as the get their belongings into t...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podHuckleberry Finn by Mark Twain chapter 8, narrated by Isaac BirchallWhen Huck wakes up, he is feeling very well rested, and comfortable on the island. He just starts to drift off to sleep again when he hears a giant “BOOM”. He runs over to investigate, and he sees a ferry boat firing a canon at the water, hoping to find Huck’s “Body.” He is a...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podHuckleberry Finn by Mark Twain chapter 7, narrated by Isaac BirchallThe next day, Huck’s dad wakes him up, angry and hungover. He asks Huck why he has a gun, and Huck lies, saying that he heard someone coming. He then sends Huck to check the fishing lines. Huck, while walking to the rods, sees a canoe float down the river, and he drags it back...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podHuckleberry Finn by Mark Twain chapter 6 narrated by Isaac BirchallSoon after, Huck’s dad is back at his old tricks, and soon tries to take Judge Thatcher to court for his money. The trial goes on and on and very really starts, but in the meantime, Huck Snr goes around drinking and causing mayhem in town. Eventually Mrs Watson tries to tell Hu...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podHuckleberry Finn by Mark Twain chapter 5, narrated by Isaac BirchallHuck closes the door and faces his father, he is scared at first, but soon he realises that he isn’t actually scared, just surprised. Huck’s dad is about 50 with long black greasy hair, with clothes that resemble rags. Huck’s dad starts berating Huck about how “Fancy” he has b...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podHuckleberry Finn by Mark Twain chapter 4, narrated by Isaac BirchallSeveral months pass by in our story, and Huck has spent the majority of this time in school. He isn’t a fan of school and when tired, he plays hooky, but he soon grows to appreciate school. The widow says to Huck that he is coming along slowly, but that he is coming along fine...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podHuckleberry Finn by Mark Twain chapter 3, narrated by Isaac BirchallIn the morning Huck got punished for sneaking out, and is then instructed in prayer by Mrs Watson. Mrs Watson tells him that whatever he asks god for, god will provide, but Huck doesn’t seem to believe it; to him it doesn’t make sense. He then goes again to Mrs Watson, and ask...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podHuckleberry Finn by Mark Twain chapter 2, narrated by Isaac Birchall Tom and Huck sneak along the side of Mrs Watson’s house, but Huck wakes up her slave Jim after tripping over a tree root. Jim comes over to where the noise came from and tries to find out who is snooping around. Thankfully for the boys Jim couldn’t see nor hear them. The boys...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podHuckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Chapter 1, narrated by Isaac BirchallHuckleberry gives the audience a quick history of his character; a small boy around 14-15 years old who has come into some money thanks to an adventure he went on with a friend, Tom Sawyer. Huckleberry seems to have no family left, and he was adopted by a local woman who wante...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne chapter 24, narrated by Isaac BirchallThe narrator goes on to describe the aftermath of this confession, and states that the majority of the people in the settlement claim that they saw a Scarlet Letter on the man’s chest, like that on Hester’s. The people speculate about it’s cause however, with some...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne chapter 23, narrated by Isaac BirchallThe Minister finishes his sermon, and as everyone files out of the church, people are heard saying that it was his best to date, and that he had never before spoken so true the word of god. As Mr Dimmesdale is leaving he turns and sees Hester, he hesitates a moment...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne chapter 22, narrated by Isaac Birchall. A huge procession passes through the town ; it is a grotesque amount of pageantry, that the New World had largely left in England. Hester is slightly disgusted by the flagrant flashing of wealth. As the procession passes by, it is remarked by many how healthy Rev...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne chapter 21, narrated by Isaac BirchallCalling back to the novel’s beginning, The town is packed, but instead of punishing Hester, the celebration is to welcome the new governor to his position. While waiting for the procession to start, Peal asks her mother if the minister is going to stretch out his h...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne chapter 20, narrated by Isaac BirchallThe minister cannot believe his luck. He is leaving the settlement and the prying eye of Chillingworth, and is heading to Europe with Hester and his daughter. Hester, thanks to her charity work, has become acquainted with some sailors who has agreed to take her, Pe...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne chapter 19, narrated by Isaac BirchallPear is very wary of coming too much closer to her Parents, and only stands on the other side of the brook with her finger pointed towards Hester’s chest. Finally, Hester gets up and pins the Scarlet Letter back to her chest, transforming her back into her sad self...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne chapter 18 , narrated by Isaac BirchallThe idea of moving to Europe energises the minister more than we have ever seen him. He claims that he can once again feel joy, and Hester, in celebration removes her bonnet, and the Scarlet Letter, allowing her to live briefly as she would in their new life. Hest...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne chapter 17, narrated by Isaac BirchallBeing finally in private, Hester and the minister sit hand in hand, and Hester tells him that Roger Chillingworth was her husband many years ago. The Minister is appauled, and starts blaming Hester for all of the sickness and suffering that has occurred since the «...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne chapter 16, narrated by Isaac BirchallDetermining to tell Mr Dimmesdale the truth behind Mr Chillingworth’s identity, Hester heads to the forest where he is wont to walk, hoping to run into him on his way back home from visiting the native Americans. Pearl, like always, comes with Hester, and runs arou...

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne chapter 15, narrated by Isaac BirchallAs Roger Chillingworth and Hester part ways, she starts to believe that what she once felt for him has all gone and that it must all have been a delusion; now, though it is a sin, she feels nothing but hate for him. Hester goes to find Pearl down by the tide pools....

Send me a message. What do you think about the book/podThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne chapter 14, narrated by Isaac BirchallHester decides to confront the doctor and ask him to stop tormenting the minister. He says with a smile that he has heard good news of Pearl and her newly assumed persona of helper, he even says that the council has considered allowing her to remove the Scarlet Let...