Best Spine Crackers Podcasts (2024)

1
Italo Calvino - The Baron in the Trees 1:21:24

1M ago1:21:24

1:21:24

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss postmodern master Italo Calvino's 1957 historical-fantasy-bildungsroman-fable-novel The Baron in the Trees. Full episode available at https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
William Golding - The Paper Men 1:10:54

2M ago1:10:54

1:10:54

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss English author William Golding's (of Lord of the Flies high school fame) first post-Nobel Prize novel of art, fame, and obsession The Paper Men (1984). Full episode on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
Gerald Murnane - The Plains 1:14:12

3M ago1:14:12

1:14:12

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Australian master Gerald Murnane's 1982 breakout novel of place, country, and the nature of representation The Plains! Full episode on the Spine Crackers Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
Djuna Barnes - Nightwood 1:17:22

6M ago1:17:22

1:17:22

In this episode the Spine Crackers discuss Djuna Barnes' pioneering 1936 novel of queer modernism, identity, and history, Nightwood. Full episode available at https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
Bernard Malamud - The Natural (feat. Nate of Books You Haven't Read) 1:33:53

8M ago1:33:53

1:33:53

In this episode, the Spine Crackers are joined by friend of the show Nate, who is the proprietor of the excellent Books You Haven't Read Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@BooksYouHaventRead) to discuss American author Bernard Malamud's 1952 debut novel The Natural.

1
Nicholson Baker - Vox 1:13:36

9M ago1:13:36

1:13:36

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss American author and literary one-of-a-kind Nicholson Baker's Vox (1992), an erotic study of character, technology, human connection, and fantasy. Full episode on Patreon below: https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
The Third Annual Spine Crackers Year-in-Review Awards Spectacular (2023 Edition) 3:30:27

10M ago3:30:27

3:30:27

In this year-end episode, the Spine Crackers rank every book we read this year from worst to best, hand out various other awards such as best cover, best quote/passage, best character, answer listener questions, and more!

1
Cormac McCarthy - The Passenger 1:17:44

11M ago1:17:44

1:17:44

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss American author Cormac McCarthy's penultimate novel of family, loss, madness, and genius, The Passenger. Full episode on our patreon as always! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
Malcolm Lowry - Under the Volcano 1:38:30

1y ago1:38:30

1:38:30

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss British author Malcolm Lowry's harrowing 1947 masterpiece of love, war, disease, culture, and meaning, Under the Volcano! Full episode available to patrons as always! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
Kenzaburō Ōe - The Silent Cry 1:22:58

1y ago1:22:58

1:22:58

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Japanese Nobel Prize winner Kenzaburō Ōe's 1967 novel of family, death, war, and history, The Silent Cry! Full episode available on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
David Duchovny - Truly Like Lightning (feat. Patrick Willems) 1:50:23

1y ago1:50:23

1:50:23

In this episode, the Spine Crackers are joined by friend of the show, real life friend, film critic, filmmaker, youtube legend, and all around renaissance man Patrick Willems to discuss David Duchovny's novel of faith, family, and life in modern-day America Truly Like Lightning. Full episode on Patreon as always! Pat - https://www.youtube.com/@patr…

1
Stefan Zweig - Chess Story 1:15:34

1+ y ago1:15:34

1:15:34

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Austrian writer Stefan Zweig's final novella of war, class, and genius, Chess Story! Full episode on the Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
William Gaddis - Agapē Agape (feat. Book Shore) 1:29:53

1+ y ago1:29:53

1:29:53

In this episode, the Spine Crackers are joined by friend of the show and booktube stalwart Ben from Book Shore to discuss iconic postwar American author William Gaddis' posthumously published final work of culture, history, technology, and art, 2002's Agapē Agape! Full episode on the Patreon! (SORRY FOR SLIGHTLY SCUFFED/CHOPPED AUDIO GABE FROZE AND…

1
Tarjei Vesaas - The Birds 1:21:50

1+ y ago1:21:50

1:21:50

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Norwegian author Tarjei Vesaas' 1957 novel of mental illness, family, nature, and perception The Birds. Full episode on Patreon as always. https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
Emil Ferris - My Favorite Thing is Monsters 1:36:24

1+ y ago1:36:24

1:36:24

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss the first ever graphic novel read for the show, Emil Ferris' 2017 pulp noir horror tale of trauma, history, and childhood My Favorite Thing is Monsters! Full episode available on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
William Faulkner - Big Woods: The Hunting Stories 1:24:47

1+ y ago1:24:47

1:24:47

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss William Faulkner's 1955 collection of stories of humanity's relationship with nature, history, and race Big Woods. Full discussion on Patreon as always! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
Don DeLillo - Libra 1:21:29

1+ y ago1:21:29

1:21:29

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Don DeLillo's 1988 pseudo-historical novel of the Kennedy assassination, postmodernism, conspiracy, and the nature of America, Libra. https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
George Sand - Indiana 1:22:50

1+ y ago1:22:50

1:22:50

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss French romantic (?) author George Sand's (aka Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil) 1832 novel of loveless marriage, colonialism, and social mores, Indiana. Enjoy. https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
William T. Vollmann - The Atlas 1:26:28

2y ago1:26:28

1:26:28

In the first episode of 2023, the Spine Crackers read William T. Vollmann's semi-autobiographical 1996 novel of sex, violence, regret, and loneliness The Atlas!

1
The Second Annual Spine Crackers End of Year Roundup Spectacular (2022)! 2:30:48

2y ago2:30:48

2:30:48

In this episode, the Spine Crackers go over their 2022 year in reading, including awards for our top 5 books of the year, best cover, worst book, and many more! We hope you're having a fantastic holiday season and we'll be back to our normal schedule in the new year!

1
Nicholas Mosley - Impossible Object 1:26:00

2y ago1:26:00

1:26:00

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss British author and 3rd Baron Ravensdale Nicholas Mosley's 1968 novel of war, love, power, and violence, Impossible Object.

1
James Baldwin - Giovanni's Room FEAT @Juliemichellereads 1:25:32

2y ago1:25:32

1:25:32

This week, the Spine Crackers were lucky enough to be joined by Julie, who runs the fantastic bookstagram account @Juliemichellereads, to discuss James Baldwin's 1956 novel of sexual and national identity, desire, morality, and death Giovanni's Room! Enjoy and make sure to follow Julie!

1
Ivan Turgenev - Fathers and Sons 1:20:52

2y ago1:20:52

1:20:52

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Ivan Turgenev's legendary 1862 novel of family, friendship, generational difference, philosophy, and love Fathers and Sons. Enjoy!

1
Interview with the new owners of Owl Pen Books 43:59

2y ago43:59

43:59

Matt sits down for a conversation with Sydney and Eric, L.A. transplants and newly minted bookstore owners of the legendary "bibliophile Mecca of Washington County": Owl Pen Books! Please enjoy this casual discussion about the rationale behind assuming ownership of a bookstore in 2022, the history of the store, literary loves, leaps of faith, and h…

1
Percival Everett - The Trees 1:22:44

2y ago1:22:44

1:22:44

In this episode, the Spine Crackers read prolific American author Percival Everett's most recent (and recently longlisted for the Booker prize) novel of race, memory, genre, and violence, The Trees, which tells the story of a series of mysterious and gruesome murders in a small, but historically significant, Mississippi town and winds up in places …

1
Roberto Bolano - The Third Reich feat. Ben of Book Shore 1:32:03

2+ y ago1:32:03

1:32:03

In this episode, the Spine Crackers are joined by friend of the show Ben, who runs the fantastic booktube channel Book Shore, to discuss legendary Chilean author Roberto Bolano's first novel, published after his untimely death but written in 1989, The Third Reich! https://www.youtube.com/c/BookShore https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers https://www…

1
Maxine Hong Kingston - Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book 1:13:48

2+ y ago1:13:48

1:13:48

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Maxine Hong Kingston's 1987 novel of race, American and Chinese history, love, and the legacy of the 60s, Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book!

1
Colin O'Sullivan - The Dark Manual 1:10:54

2+ y ago1:10:54

1:10:54

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Colin O'Sullivan's sci-fi novel of family, loss, AI, and getting drunk, The Dark Manual! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spinecrackers

1
Yu Miri - Tokyo Ueno Station 1:21:38

2+ y ago1:21:38

1:21:38

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Japanese author Yu Miri's 2014 novel of national identity, trauma, family, regret, and class, Tokyo Ueno Station!

1
Toni Morrison - Beloved 1:15:22

2+ y ago1:15:22

1:15:22

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Toni Morrison's seminal 1987 novel of race, trauma, memory, family, community, and so much more Beloved.

1
Gerald Murnane - Barley Patch (feat. Sean of Travel Through Stories) 1:19:56

2+ y ago1:19:56

1:19:56

In this episode, the Spine Crackers are lucky enough to be joined by Sean, who is the creator of the fantastic YouTube channel Travel Through Stories, to discuss Australian author Gerald Murnane's reflective novel of the life of the writer, memory, and subjective experience "Barley Patch."

1
Ted Chiang - Exhalation 1:30:03

2+ y ago1:30:03

1:30:03

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Ted Chiang's much-lauded sci-fi short story collection Exhalation, which touches on issues as wide ranging as tech startup culture, free will, and time travel!

1
John Wyndham - The Day of the Triffids (feat. W.A.S.T.E. Mailing List) 1:23:09

2+ y ago1:23:09

1:23:09

In this episode, the Spine Crackers are joined by Seth, proprietor of the excellent Instagram and Youtube accounts under the W.A.S.T.E. Mailing List moniker, to discuss John Wyndham's 1951 catastrophe novel of war, science, and human society The Day of the Triffids. https://www.instagram.com/wastemailinglist/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/channel/U…

1
Olga Tokarczuk - Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead 1:09:30

2+ y ago1:09:30

1:09:30

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Nobel Prize winning Polish author Olga Tokarczuk's 2009 existential pseudo-murder-mystery Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spinecrackers

1
Katharina Volckmer - The Appointment 1:12:35

2+ y ago1:12:35

1:12:35

This week, the Spine Crackers discuss Katharina Volckmer's transgressive 2020 novel of sex, identity, and trauma, (still unpublished in her native country of Germany) The Appointment. https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spinecrackers

1
Paul Auster - Leviathan 1:12:22

2+ y ago1:12:22

1:12:22

This week, the Spine Crackers read American author Paul Auster's 1992 novel of friendship, writing, and finding one's place in political history, Leviathan. https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spinecrackers

1
John Bunyan - The Pilgrim's Progress 1:21:23

2+ y ago1:21:23

1:21:23

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss their first devotional text, John Bunyan's 1678 allegorical adventure and proto-novel The Pilgrim's Progress. See y'all down the road! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spinecrackers

1
Lorrie Moore - Like Life 1:08:17

2+ y ago1:08:17

1:08:17

In this episode, the Spine Crackers read American author Lorrie Moore's elegiac collection of short stories on isolation, rootlessness, art, and, well...you get the idea, Like Life. https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spinecrackers

1
Anna Kavan - Ice 1:07:34

2+ y ago1:07:34

1:07:34

This week, the Spine Crackers read English author Anna Kavan's final novel, 1967's schizological sci-fi blizzard-dream, Ice. https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spinecrackers

1
Ersnt Junger - The Glass Bees 1:08:45

2+ y ago1:08:45

1:08:45

In this episode, the Spine Crackers read controversial German author Ernst Junger's 1957 science fiction novel of technology, war, celebrity, and fascism (?) The Glass Bees. https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spinecrackers

1
Italo Calvino - If on a winter's night a traveler (Featuring Nate Rankin of Books You Haven't Read) 1:10:17

2+ y ago1:10:17

1:10:17

In this episode, the Spine Crackers are joined by Nate Rankin, proprietor of the YouTube channel Books You Haven't Read, to discuss Italo Calvino's 1979 metatextual novel (within novel within novel) If on a winter's night a traveler! https://www.youtube.com/user/IamSeamus1 https://www.naterankin.com/ https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers https://ww…

1
Christopher Isherwood - A Single Man 1:01:19

3y ago1:01:19

1:01:19

In this episode (the first in our new condensed format) the Spine Crackers read Christopher Isherwood's 1964 novel of grief, aging, and the American psyche, A Single Man! Full two-and-a-half hour discussion available to patrons! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

1
ANNOUNCING: Spine Crackers 2.0! 15:52

3y ago15:52

15:52

The Spine Crackers share a very important announcement regarding plans for 2022 and beyond! We will be taking a brief break to get ourselves mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally ready for the coming changes and are so excited to get back to the show in a couple weeks!

1
Charles Simic - The Lunatic & The World Doesn't End 1:41:21

3y ago1:41:21

1:41:21

In the first episode of 2022, the Spine Crackers welcome the bleak midwinter months with their first ever episode on poetry. Specifically, they discuss the bleak, philosophical, surreal, and deeply human poetry of Yugoslav-American poet Charles Simic.

1
The First Annual Spine Crackers End-of-Year Awards Spectacular 3:13:54

3y ago3:13:54

3:13:54

In this very special episode, the Spine Crackers present their first annual end-of-year awards. They each count down their personal top 5 books of the year, give out awards for categories such as Best Character, Best Cover, Most Disappointing Book, and many more! Have a fantastic New Year!

1
Herman Melville - The Confidence-Man 2:14:57

3y ago2:14:57

2:14:57

In this episode, the Spine Crackers read Herman Melville's final novel, the 1857 satirical masterpiece of identity, religion, irony, and the American psyche, The Confidence-Man.

1
One-Year Anniversary Q&A Blowout (The Mics) 3:32:24

3y ago3:32:24

3:32:24

In this very special episode, the Spine Crackers celebrate one year of the podcast with some reflections on the story so far and a Q&A with listener submitted questions! Here's to many more years and many more books!

1
Truman Capote - A Tree of Night and Other Stories 2:26:13

3y ago2:26:13

2:26:13

In this episode, the Spine Crackers read American enfant terrible Truman Capote's 1949 collection of short stories, "A Tree of Night and Other Stories."

1
Percival Everett - Percival Everett by Virgil Russell 2:32:03

3y ago2:32:03

2:32:03

In this episode, the Spine Crackers read Percival Everett's 2013 postmodern metatext of death, family, race, and language Percival Everett by Virgil Russell. Make sure to stay tuned through the end for a #booktube callout and a first for the podcast surprise! Let's philosophize.

1
Joseph McElroy - Cannonball (feat. Ben of Book Shore) 3:05:54

3y ago3:05:54

3:05:54

In this episode, the Spine Crackers are joined by Ben, the proprietor of the fantastic Book Shore YouTube channel, to discuss legendary postmodern author Joseph McElroy's 2013 novel of war, family, memory, and American identity, Cannonball. Ben also breaks some genuine literary news with respect to some previously semi-lost McElroy texts! https://w…

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