387 episodes
Close Reads Podcast Goldberry Studios
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- Arts
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4.8 • 22 Ratings
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Close Reads is a book-club podcast for the incurable reader. Featuring David Kern, Tim McIntosh and Heidi White, alongside a couple of other occasional guests, we read Great Books and talk about them. This is a show for amateurs in the best sense. We’re book lovers, book enthusiasts. This is not an experts show and it’s barely literary analysis in the way that literary analysis is commonly understood. Instead it’s a show about experiences with literary urge. Join us!
closereads.substack.com
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Trust: Part 2
We’re back to discuss part two of Hernan Diaz’s award-winning novel. In this episode we chat about whether we can really know anything about its narrator (and how he might be related to the protagonist in part one), whether he’s a bad guy or just a small-soul, the metafiction of it all, and more. Happy listening!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe -
Trust: Part One
The gang is all back for this new series on Hernan Diaz’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Trust! Join as we try not to spoil the rest of the book, discuss what makes Diaz’s approach so compelling, contemplate who part one is most sympathetic toward, and much more. Happy listening!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe -
The Hobbit: Q&A episode
Once again, it’s time to answer your questions! So join us as we discuss Tolkien’s many choices, some differences between this book and the main trilogy, his various influences, teaching it, and much more. Happy listening!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe -
The Hobbit: Back Again (The Final Chapters)
Bilbo’s journey is over and he’s home, which means there’s plenty to talk about. So this week we’re discussing the role of luck in Tolkien’s stories, the book’s subtle moral vision, Bilbo’s transformation, Arkenbread, and much more. Happy listening!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe -
The Hobbit: Chapters 7-13
Bilbo, Thorin, and co. are well on their way, but are they actually good at their jobs? We discuss. Plus: Beowulf, The Hobbit and the question of heroism. Happy listening!
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe -
The Hobbit: Chapters 1-6
Welcome to a new series here on Close Reads! We’re talking Tolkien, we’re talking Hobbits, we’re talking rings and dwarves and wizards, and (this week anyway) we’re talking first lines. So join us as we dig into what makes The Hobbit both so fun and so brilliant, what is has to say about heroism, whether our riddle game is strong, and much more. Plus, at the end, we discuss the annual Close Reads literary bracket, which is on great opening lines in literature. Happy listening! Preorder LUMEN Volume One: www.goldberryarts.com
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
Customer Reviews
Great Book Talk!
Such great conversation around truly great books!
Some good discussion.
For the most part, this is a fairly good close read of a variety of texts. The hosts spend a little too much time enjoying their own familiarity for a public audience (you generally can skip the first 10 minutes of each episode).
The hosts are not pushing their agenda as proud Christians, but as often the case, that means it very much gets in the way of their interpretations. These are books read by Christians as Christians, and for those of us who are not, it’s a huge distraction. Too often “As a Christian . . . “ starts a sentence that takes away from the listening.
I gave it a try because I enjoyed the Daily Poem by the same group. After three books I had to quit because I’m not in the specific audience this is aimed at (intentional or not)
So satisfying!
I was just wishing that I belonged to a book club when I came across this podcast. I love it so much! It is definitely my favourite podcast of the year!
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