Talk Write

Brandon Cook
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Books
  • Updated Daily

Excerpts and commentary on great writing brandoncookwriter.substack.com

  1. Brilliant Beginnings: Ulysses

    Mar 10

    Brilliant Beginnings: Ulysses

    In today’s episode, I take a look at the iconic beginning of James Joyce’s “Ulysses” and discuss what makes it so luminous. “Ulysses” is often credited with having a famous opening, but it’s worthwhile unpacking everything that Joyce is doing. How does the Irish sea symbolize a dead mother? How does he use rhythm and syntax to rhyme and pair his lines. Join me in today’s discussion! Get full access to Talk Write at brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe

    20 min
  2. Brilliant Beginnings: Number9dream

    Mar 2

    Brilliant Beginnings: Number9dream

    In today’s reading, I take a look at the turbocharged beginning of David Mitchell’s 2001 novel, Number9dream. Although not as highly regarded as some of his other work, Mitchell’s early novel still shows the trademarks of the master’s fireworking style: humor, clipped pacing, gorgeous details, quickcut characterization, and so much more! Get full access to Talk Write at brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe

    13 min
  3. Brilliant Beginnings: Lolita

    Feb 21

    Brilliant Beginnings: Lolita

    A few weeks ago, I talked about what made the beginning of Dickens’s Bleak House so outstanding. Continuing on with this theme, today I take a look at Vladimir Nabokov’s demonic fairytale, Lolita. Everybody knows its euphonic opening line (light of my life, fire of my loins) but what else is Nabokov doing here? Join me and we’ll find out together! Get full access to Talk Write at brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe

    15 min
  4. Mythic Images: Ascending the Mountain

    Feb 10

    Mythic Images: Ascending the Mountain

    In today’s video, I look at a piece of travel writing by Robert Twigger and discuss its mythological implications. Whether we admit it or not, mythic patterns are the grammar of our worldviews and are found not just in literature, but anywhere we encounter narrative. Get full access to Talk Write at brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe

    14 min
  5. Brilliant Beginnings: Bleak House

    Feb 2

    Brilliant Beginnings: Bleak House

    In this series, I’ll be looking at some opening pages and talking about what makes them so great. Today, I’m beginning with Dickens’s “Bleak House.” It’s an opening I’ve covered before on my podcast, but there’s still so much to talk about. In twopages, Dickens not only manages to create one of the most unforgettable images of London fog, he does so while combining character, theme, and even plot, and all in a luxurious prose style that relishes words and never comes across as merely descriptive. Get full access to Talk Write at brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe

    17 min
  6. Shakespeare's Most Enigmatic Poem

    Jan 14

    Shakespeare's Most Enigmatic Poem

    Among Shakespeare’s least-read works are his early, long poems: Venus and Adonis (1593), and The Rape of Lucrece (1594), and “The Phoenix and the Turtle” (1601). The last poem remains deeply enigmatic. What can it teach us today? And what sort of light does it shed on the rest of Shakespeare’s work? Get full access to Talk Write at brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe

    12 min
  7. War and Peace: The Best Battle Scene

    Jan 7

    War and Peace: The Best Battle Scene

    In 2025 I got to reread one of my all-time favorites, "War and Peace." While it's widely considered the gold standard for lengthy, 'classic' novels, this title can often discourage would-be readers from this work, which, while long, never drags. Here, I give you one of my favorite scenes that occurs midway through book one. Get full access to Talk Write at brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe

    16 min
  8. A Chesterton New Year Reflection!

    12/30/2025

    A Chesterton New Year Reflection!

    Welcome to 2026! But before we celebrate too hard, it’s important to reflect on what a new year actually is. Are we going to keep repeating the same cycles we always have? Are we going to go on making the same mistakes? Or are we going to recognize that Christmas is the date that marks the revolution in our hearts, and New Years an opportunity to set that change in place? GK Chesterton has a choice adventure story in today’s poem that gets to the heart of what a change looks and feels like. Get full access to Talk Write at brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe

    13 min
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About

Excerpts and commentary on great writing brandoncookwriter.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Brandon Cook
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    148
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Brandon Cook
  • Show Website
    Talk Write