I listen on Spotify but hopped onto the Apple podcast app just so that I could write a review! Faith is a complete gem, and Storytime for Grownups has truly changed my life and given me confidence in my ability to read the classics. If you have tried to read a famed classic novel and just don’t get the hype because you felt like it took you twenty minutes to read a page and you don’t see how anyone could put themselves through that, then this podcast is for you. If you already enjoy classic literature but want to have someone with whom to talk about it, then this podcast is also for you!
Storytime for Grownups is like being part of a book club. Each episode starts with housekeeping/announcements about the club, proceeded by a recap of what we read last time, followed by questions/discussion. Then after all of that she reads a chapter (or two) of the book, word by word, with some built in notes along the way to make it easier to follow for people new to classic literature.
If the 10-15 minute chat at the beginning is a turn-off for you, then a plain audiobook will be more your speed (all of the novels being read are in the public domain and you can find recordings for free on librivox). The discussion is the point. It is a feature, not a bug.
If the mid-chapter notes seem beneath you because you’re already well versed in Victorian-era turns of phrase and references or because you follow long Dickensian run-on sentences with ease, then perhaps this isn’t the podcast for you. But allow me to propose suspending the eye-rolling and remembering that we all started somewhere. Have patience with those who aren’t as familiar with 17th century language and therefore find the prospect of tackling classic literature on their own too daunting. You might consider sticking around and contributing to the conversation. You may even discover new insights into one of your favorite stories.
Faith is trying to make the classics, which were written for the masses of their day, once again accessible to the masses of our time. She does an amazing job of it ❤️
