BookShook

A discussion of each half of a book

BookShook is a first impressions literature podcast. I'll read the first half of a book together and I'll share my thoughts (and yours hopefully) on the first half - perhaps make a few predictions about what may happen. And in the following podcast, I'll release a discussion of the second half and we’ll decide whether it’s a book we’d recommend to a friend. You don’t have to read the book. you can listen to it, or just follow along since I’ll be summarising what happens - but be aware - there may be spoilers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 10/27/2023

    The Machine Stops

    This episode is all about the second half of The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster published in 1928 (from Part 2 The Mending Apparatus if you're reading alongside). The idea of the episode is that I take a book I’ve never read, split it in two and discuss each half in consecutive podcasts. I’ll do a first impressions summary alongside my thoughts and reactions and then raise any interesting ideas so far in the novel (be aware - there may be spoilers.) And then on the last Friday of the month, I'll discuss the second half of the book. We’ll see together how the novel concludes and decide whether it’s a book we’d recommend to a friend - or not. Of course, you don’t have to read the book, you can listen to it, or just follow along without doing either since I’ll be summarising what happens (but be aware! - there will be spoilers). You can leave a comment or start a conversation at youtube.com/@BookShook or send an email to bookshook@yahoo.com. The next book I'll be reading is The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy (106 pages) —I'll be reading up to half way for the next episode. Thanks for listening to BookShook! Roger Next Reads: The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy The Awakening Kate Chopin Satantango László Krasznahorkai I'm delighted that this podcast has been voted in the ’90 best UK Books podcasts worth listening to in 2023’ at https://blog.feedspot.com/uk_book_podcasts/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  2. 09/29/2023

    Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

    Welcome to BookShook! This episode is all about the second half of September’s book, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin published in 2022 (from Chapter 5 'Pivots' on page 211 if you're reading alongside). The idea of the episode is that I take a book I’ve never read, split it in two and discuss each half in consecutive podcasts. I’ll do a first impressions summary alongside my thoughts and reactions and then raise any interesting ideas so far in the novel (be aware - there may be spoilers.) Of course, you don’t have to read the book, you can listen to it, or just follow along without doing either since I’ll be summarising what happens (but be aware! - there will be spoilers). You can leave a comment or start a conversation at youtube.com/@BookShook or send an email to bookshook@yahoo.com. Going forward with the podcast, I’d like to read books that you suggest. So if you have one, let me know and I’ll do a podcast on it. Send an email to bookshook@yahoo.com. So the next podcast will be about a book you suggest. Can't wait to hear your suggestions. Content Warning: There are adult themes throughout the first half: suicide, violence, sexism and misogyny. I don't use any foul language in this podcast. Please check the content of the novel before proceeding. Article "The Unquenchable Thirst to Understand" by Yvonne Merritt http://itech.fgcu.edu/&/issues/vol2/issue2/rabelais.htm Youtube video of Simon McBurney discussing Rabelais: https://youtu.be/iIy9AEtHYXc I'm delighted that this podcast has been voted in the ’90 best UK Books podcasts worth listening to in 2023’ at https://blog.feedspot.com/uk_book_podcasts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  3. 09/08/2023

    Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Review

    Welcome to BookShook! This episode is all about the first half of September’s book, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin published in 2022 (up to Chapter 5 'Pivots' on page 211 if you're reading alongside). The idea is that I split a book into two equal halves — a book that I and perhaps you have never read. In the first episode, published on the second Friday of the month, we’ll discuss the first half. And then in the second episode (published on the last Friday of the month - $Part2EpisodeDate$ September), we’ll look at the second half of the book (in this case from Chapter 5 'Pivots' on page 211). We’ll see together how the novel concludes and decide whether it’s a book we’d recommend to a friend - or not. Of course, you don’t have to read the book, you can listen to it, or just follow along without doing either since I’ll be summarising what happens (but be aware! - there will be spoilers). You can leave a comment or start a conversation at youtube.com/@BookShook or send an email to bookshook@yahoo.com. The book we’ll be reading for October is The Machine Stops by EM Forster (so get that ready if you’re going to read alongside). Thanks for listening to BookShook! Roger Content Warning: There are adult themes throughout the first half: suicide, violence, sexism and misogyny. I don't use any foul language in this podcast. Please check the content of the novel before proceeding. Article "The Unquenchable Thirst to Understand" by Yvonne Merritt http://itech.fgcu.edu/&/issues/vol2/issue2/rabelais.htm Youtube video of Simon McBurney discussing Rabelais http://itech.fgcu.edu/&/issues/vol2/issue2/rabelais.htm I'm delighted that this podcast has been voted in the ’90 best UK Books podcasts worth listening to in 2023’ at https://blog.feedspot.com/uk_book_podcasts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

BookShook is a first impressions literature podcast. I'll read the first half of a book together and I'll share my thoughts (and yours hopefully) on the first half - perhaps make a few predictions about what may happen. And in the following podcast, I'll release a discussion of the second half and we’ll decide whether it’s a book we’d recommend to a friend. You don’t have to read the book. you can listen to it, or just follow along since I’ll be summarising what happens - but be aware - there may be spoilers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.