8 episodes
Literary Ramblings Scott Talmage, Joe Hecker, Kevin McCarthy, and Wes Allen
-
- Arts
In a book club spanning over a decade, Joe, Kevin, Wes, and Scott actually discuss the books- and now, it's a podcast! With a focus on serious fiction, the four explore context, interpretation, and criticism while enjoying a few drinks and lively banter.
There will be spoilers- so, if you haven’t read the novel, and would prefer not to hear plot points, pause this now, go read the book, and then press play.
-
On Paul Auster's The New York Trilogy
In this episode, Joe, Scott, Wes, and Kevin discuss Paul Auster's 1985-86 postmodern trilogy The New York Trilogy. We focus on the Auster's life and personal views, influences and literary allusions, what connects the three short novels, the Auster film Smoke, Auster's exploration of identity and more.
-
On Flannery O'Connor's The Violent Bear It Away
In this episode, Joe, Scott, Wes, and Kevin discuss Flannery O'Connor's 1960 Southern Gothic novel The Violent Bear It Away. We focus on the O'Connor's life and personal views, the division between religion and secularism, what exactly is Southern Gothic literature, similarities to other novels, whether it is acceptable to separate the art from the artist, the Biblical references including an exploration of the title, and more.
-
On Henry James' The Golden Bowl
In this episode, Joe, Scott, Wes and Kevin discuss Henry James' celebrated work of early modernism, The Golden Bowl. We focus on James' family background, speculations about his lifetime bachelorhood, the challenges of this particular work, Freudian interpretations of James' work, our overall impressions of this novel and more.
-
On Nabokov's Ada or Ardor
In this episode, Joe, Scott, Wes, and Kevin discuss Vladimir Nabokov's celebrated satire of the family chronicle Ada or Ardor . We touch on how the novel is complicated, deals with some uncomfortable topics, plays with language, and overall returns whatever is invested.
-
On Faulkner's Sanctuary (Re-release and newly edited)
In this episode, Joe, Scott and Kevin (recorded pre-Wes) discuss the 1931 novel, Sanctuary, by William Faulkner. We discuss the style and themes, misogyny and racism, the difference between art and entertainment, film versions of the book, a bit about the author, some plot points, and published critical commentary. There are spoilers!
-
On Wurlitzer's Drop Edge of Yonder
In this episode, Joe, Scott, Wes, and Kevin discuss Rudolph Wurlitzer's acid western The Drop Edge of Yonder. We touch on how the novel is connected to the films Dead Man and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, what makes something an acid western, the difference between pop art and serious fiction and why grittiness is generally popular.