The Literary Lamppost

"My name is Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, and I will not be afraid" With the explosion of BookTok, Romantasy has become a hot topic in the literary world. Is it real literature? Is it just "smut"? And how can a story about an assassin and a 300 year old fae warrior have any relevance to our lives today? We are now a video podcast, so head over to YouTube to see our attempted Thro...

🧙🏼‍♂️Lord of the Rings is perhaps the greatest and most epic tale of good vs. evil known to the literary world, and addresses an important question: how do you keep fighting for good when all hope is lost?  🗡️Tolkien saw a lot in his life. He fought in WWI, and watched his son fight in WWII. It's no surprise, then, that he brought such a poignant perspective to what it means to fight for go...

🧝🏻‍♀️Ever wished there were more female characters (main or otherwise) in Lord of the Rings? Us too! We do love Eowyn and Galadriel, though. 🗡️  How do we approach Lord of the Rings' portrayal of women? What does it mean to write women well? Was Tolkien progressive for his time, or stuck in the past?  Join us as we dive into the study and critique of Tolkien's representation of female...

🧝🏻‍♂️When you think of the LOTR characters, who comes to mind first? Frodo? Aragorn? Legolas? 🏹  Tolkien's positive view of masculinity offers a unique lens through which to analyse each of these characters. Plus who WOULDN'T want to talk about the absolute badassery these dudes demonstrate. Join us for a discussion about the marvellous men of Middle-earth, and let us know which one&a...

🚽Today we're diving into "The Help", a fascinating novel set in Jim Crow Era Mississippi. We tend to look back at history and think we'd be "one of the good ones". We'd be hiding Jews in our basements, we'd be marching for civil rights with MLK Jr., but is that certain? How can we know? The Help examines some fascinating perspectives, but are they accurate?...

🐝 It's another bee book! join us for a fantastic discussion about a truly wonderful book, in which we explore the journey of a 14 year old girl escaping an abusive home and running away from her past. Can God be a mother? How does Mary fit into spirituality? How does the Civil Rights movement echo in today’s world? Join us for this and more in today's episode.  We'd love to hear yo...

🐝 Join us today for a discussion on Sofia Segovia's novel, The Murmur of Bees! Such a beautiful, heartwarming yet heartbreaking story, with so much to talk about! A boy, abandoned because of a birth defect, found under a bridge protected by a blanket to bees. These bees become his constant guide through life...magical realism hums through this story. Something really interesting is the idea...

📚Today we discuss Pip Williams' "Dictionary of Lost Words", which follows Esme Nicoll the daughter of a lexicographer working on the Oxford English Dictionary. Words are powerful, we all know that. But why? What gives them their power? and what happens when those words are taken away? Join us for this and much more! We hope you love this highly anticipated episode! We'd love t...

In this episode, we discuss Niall William's This is Happiness. A charming and wholesome read, this book gave us a lot to think about! Join us for a conversation about what it means to live, as well as how literature can be therapy,  how to cope with change, and healthy vs unhealthy Christianity. Come along for the ride!  We'd love to hear your thoughts!  🎧Connect with us!  Discord: disc...

In this episode, join us for a discussion of the merits of communism. JK 😂, we're actually talking about the book The Giver, and how it critiques a totalitarian government through the lens of a communism-like society. Is left and right all there is to the political spectrum? Or is there something more sinister hiding there...Join us to find out! Also included is some commentary about politic...

What does green slime and a castle on legs have to do with the anti-aging industry? Listen to this episode to find out! Join us as we journey with Sophie, a girl under a curse that makes her old. We discuss society's seeming allergy to aging women as well as the advantages that come with getting older. We also talk a bit about the movie version by Studio Ghibli and the controversy surrounding...

In today's episode, we discuss The Little Prince, by Antoine Saint-Exupery. We talk a bit about what it means to be a "grown-up" and how the most important things in life can only be seen with the heart. 🦊⭐️🌹✨❤️ Join us as we discuss narrow mindedness, openness, relationships, and caring for the planet. 🎧Connect with us!  Discord: discord.gg/WwzWW7FS Instagram: @theliterarylamp...

What child doesn't want to be a princess at some point or other, we know we both did! Sara Crewe is a great example to us for how to be a princess, no matter our circumstances, and how we can use our princess power for good.  🎧Connect with us!  Discord: discord.gg/WwzWW7FS Instagram: @theliterarylamppost Music by Josh Ibbott soundcloud.com/doplas Support the show Follow us on Instagram @thel...

Ah Pride and Prejudice, a favourite Austen classic. In this episode we discuss some of the great and...not so great relationship dynamics that we find in the relationships between these beloved characters...and maybe think about why you shouldn’t say everything you think at a country ball... We also discuss some things in relation to red pill stuff, it seems there is nothing new under the sun......

Caitlin and Ashley discuss Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, a heroine who knows herself and her worth. Join us as we talk about personhood,  Jane's desire for belonging and love, and most of all, her fierce loyalty to herself and what she knows to be right. Plus there's a mad wife locked in the attic, and that always makes things interesting.  🎧Connect with us!  instagram: www.instagr...

When ghosts knock on the window, let them in and deal with your trauma! In today's episode, Cait and Ash talk about Wuthering Heights and its cultural impact. They also discuss the need for therapy and dealing with your ghosts.  🎧Connect with us!  instagram: www.instagram.com/theliterarylamppost/ Discord: discord.gg/KhfjFE3e Music by Josh Ibbott https://soundcloud.com/doplas Our sources and...

In this episode, Caitlin and Ashley discuss Elantris, by Brandon Sanderson, and how hope and hate both motivate people to different ends. Oh, and there's a badass princess as well.  Whoops we made a mistake! The event that made Dilaf hate the elantrians happened when he was an adult, not a child.  🎧Connect with us!  instagram: www.instagram.com/theliterarylamppost/ Discord: discord.gg/KhfjFE...

In this episode, Ashley and Caitlin discuss C.S. Lewis's The Last Battle, the final book of The Chronicles of Narnia, and what can be drawn from it as it applies to governance, faith, goodness and hope.  🎧Connect with us!  instagram: www.instagram.com/theliterarylamppost/ Discord: discord.gg/KhfjFE3e Music by Josh Ibbott https://soundcloud.com/doplas Support the show Follow us on Instagram @...

In this episode, Caitlin and Ashley discuss Little Women, the way Pilgrims Progress was used to frame the story, how each girl carries her burdens, and how in a way, they are our burdens too.  🎧Connect with us!  instagram: www.instagram.com/theliterarylamppost/ Discord: discord.gg/KhfjFE3e Music by Josh Ibbott https://soundcloud.com/doplas Support the show Follow us on Instagram @theliterarylampp...

Anne of Green Gables was written over 100 years ago, yet it is still such a beloved book. In this episode, we explore why, and discuss what we can learn from it, even though it was written so long ago. 🎧Connect with us!  instagram: www.instagram.com/theliterarylamppost/ Discord: discord.gg/KhfjFE3e Music by Josh Ibbott https://soundcloud.com/doplas Support the show Follow us on Instagram @thelite...