Best Arlingtonpubliclibrary Podcasts (2024)

1
Back to High School: Beloved 45:22

5M ago45:22

45:22

Toni Morrison’s 1987 novel "Beloved" takes place in Cincinnati after the Civil War and is loosely based on the life of Margaret Garner, an enslaved woman who escaped Kentucky in 1856 with her extended family. Subject to capture under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, Garner was so determined to protect her children from being returned to slavery that…

1
Back to High School: Johnny Got His Gun 41:17

1y ago41:17

41:17

“Johnny Got His Gun” is an anti-war novel written in 1938 by American novelist Dalton Trumbo and published in September 1939. There have been radio, stage and screen adaptations of the novel, including Trumbo’s own 1971 film, and Metallica recorded a song – titled One – based on the book. In March of 1940, the book was serialized in the Daily Worke…

1
Back to High School: Things Fall Apart 40:20

1+ y ago40:20

40:20

For this episode we read the 1958 novel by debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. The novel became the first work published in Heinemann's African Writers Series in the UK, starting in 1962. “Things Fall Apart” is the first book in Achebe’s trilogy about African history, and has been read by high schoolers for generations as the archetypal m…

1
Back to High School: Pride & Prejudice 42:55

1+ y ago42:55

42:55

For season four we're going back to school with books we read - or didn't read - in high school. We started with "Pride & Prejudice," by Jane Austen. Reminder: this is a spoiler-filled podcast. So if you’re not into that kind of thing, read the text first and come back later. Episode Links This episode's book - "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen …

1
Holmes Trio: A Study in Scarlet, Mycroff Holmes & A Study in Scarlet Women 36:11

2y ago36:11

36:11

For this episode we read three Holmes stories. The first is Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1887 original “A Study in Scarlet,” the first Sherlock Holmes work. The second is is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse’s 2015 “Mycroft Holmes,” and the third is “A Study in Scarlet Women,” by Sherry Thomas. Reminder: this is a spoiler-filled podcast. So if you’re…

1
Beowulf & The Mere Wife 43:57

2y ago43:57

43:57

For this episode we read both Maria Headley’s translation of the Old English epic poem "Beowulf" and “The Mere Wife,” Headley's 2015 retelling of Beowulf, which is set in present-day New York. Reminder: this is a spoiler-filled podcast. So if you’re not into that kind of thing, read the texts first and come back later. Episode Links "Beowulf: a New…

1
King Lear & Fool 32:20

2y ago32:20

32:20

For this episode we read both the play "King Lear," written by William Shakespeare, and the 2009 book “Fool,” by Christopher Moore. King Lear is one of Shakespeare’s tragic plays, and is based on a legendary 8th Century BCE king of Britain (which would have been around the founding of Rome), as recounted in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s pseudohistorical 1…

1
Room with a View & Sex and Vanity 34:53

2+ y ago34:53

34:53

For this episode we read both the 1908 novel “A Room with a View,” by E.M. Forster, and Kevin Kwan’s 2020 novel “Sex and Vanity.” As foundational texts go, "A Room with a View" is an Edwardian era novel – there are trains, and horses and carriages – setting it later than our recent foundational texts. Reminder: this is a spoiler-filled podcast. So …

1
Jane Eyre / The Eyre Affair - part 2 39:40

2+ y ago39:40

39:40

The Eyre Affair, by English author Jasper Fforde, was first published in 2001. It takes place in an alternative 1985, where literary detective Thursday Next pursues a master criminal through the world of Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel Jane Eyre. Reminder: this is a spoiler-filled podcast. So if you’re not into that kind of thing, read the book first…

1
Jane Eyre / The Eyre Affair - part 1 47:40

2+ y ago47:40

47:40

For December we read the 1847 novel by Charlotte Brontë, “Jane Eyre.” Originally published under the pen name Currer Bell, as “Jane Eyre: An Autobiography,” the novel follows the experiences of the eponymous heroine, including her growth into adulthood and love for the brooding Mr. Rochester. In January, we're reading “The Eyre Affair” by Jasper Ff…

1
The Chosen and the Beautiful / The Great Gatsby 45:10

2+ y ago45:10

45:10

This month we read Nghi Vo’s “The Chosen and the Beautiful,” a retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 classic, “The Great Gatsby,” told from the perspective of Jordan Baker, a side character in Fitzgerald’s novel. The Jazz Age Nghi Vo creates is both brighter and darker – it's magical and queer, and Jay Gatsby has literally sold his soul to the de…

1
The Ballad of Black Tom / The Horror at Red Hook 47:36

2+ y ago47:36

47:36

Victor LaValle’s 2016 fantasy-horror novella “The Ballad of Black Tom,” which revisits H.P. Lovecraft’s 1925 short story “The Horror at Red Hook,” is an excellent example of an author not only building upon but surpassing the foundations of a literary genre. Reminder: this is a spoiler-filled podcast. So if you’re not into that kind of thing, read …

1
The Anatomy of Desire by L.R. Dorn 39:22

3y ago39:22

39:22

This is the first episode of our third season, and “The Anatomy of Desire” is the perfect book to introduce our fall reading theme and schedule. In season two we tackled a variety of western classics and foundational texts. With this book we’re beginning to explore the work built on those foundations. Published in May, 2021, “The Anatomy of Desire”…

1
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett 32:15

3y ago32:15

32:15

This week on the podcast we’re talking about the “The Wee Free Men,” a 2003 fantasy novel that takes places in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld universe. "The Wee Free Men” is the first Discworld book that features Tiffany Aching, and the first truly YA book in the series. Reminder: this is a spoiler-filled podcast. So if you’re not into that kind of th…

1
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler 34:30

3y ago34:30

34:30

This week we break down the roots of the hard boiled detective novel with Raymond Chandler's iconic 1939 crime novel, "The Big Sleep." Episode Links “The Big Sleep,” by Raymond Chandler Reading Pete – “Shock Value” by Jason Zinoman Jennie - “Antonio” by Beatriz Bracher Megan – “One by One” by Ruth Ware, “Crying in H Mart: A Memoir” by Michelle Zaun…

1
An American Tragedy, pt.3, by Theodore Dreiser 26:39

3y ago26:39

26:39

On the Facebook group, reader Kristen said, “One sign of a good book to me is how much I remember and still think about months later, and this [An American Tragedy] was one of those books.” So we took a deep dive into that question on this week's episode.... Episode Links “An American Tragedy,” by Theodore Dreiser Reading Pete - “Blindsight” by Pet…

1
An American Tragedy, pt.2, by Theodore Dreiser 31:55

3y ago31:55

31:55

How to Try to Get Away with Murder This episode comes with a content warning! This section of “An American Tragedy” (and our podcast discussion) deals with unprotected sex and the search for abortion after unplanned pregnancy in the 1920s. There is also discussion of a pre-planned murder. So if that isn’t something that would be healthy for you to …

1
An American Tragedy, pt.1, by Theodore Dreiser 35:16

3y ago35:16

35:16

This week on the podcast we’re reading part 1 of “An American Tragedy,” by Theodore Dreiser. Originally published in 1925, Dreiser based his novel on a notorious murder of a young woman named Grace Brown, and the subsequent trial of her boyfriend. The novel has just been republished in a new edition. The next two episodes will cover parts two and t…

1
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 32:43

3y ago32:43

32:43

Neither Pete or Megan have actually read any of Agatha Christie's murder mysteries, so we took a deep dive into her 1939 best selling, endlessly genre-shaping, "And Then There Were None." We weren't surprised by both the overt and casual racism and sexism in the book, but we were surprised to discover that Christie's psychological thriller writing …

1
True Grit by Charles Portis 32:20

3+ y ago32:20

32:20

Much to everyone's surprise, Jennie Megan and Pete all loved "True Grit." We’re taking April off to catch our collective breathe. We’ll be back May 3 with Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None," and will announce the rest of the spring schedule soon. If you would like to make a suggestion for future reading you can share your recommendations …

1
The Candle in the Wind: The Once and Future King, Part 4 40:34

3+ y ago40:34

40:34

We had very different reactions to the final volume of this book, but none of us got what we were expecting when we set out to read "The Once and Future King." Links "The Candle in the Wind: Book 4 of The Once and Future King" by T.H. White King Arthur Book List - https://libcat.arlingtonva.us/MyAccount/MyList/29971 Pete – Recommends Digital Magazi…

1
The Ill Made Knight: The Once and Future King, Part 3 39:49

3+ y ago39:49

39:49

In volume 3 we get Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table. We get Arthur and Guinevere, and Lancelot and the love triangle. In this episode Jennie, Megan and Pete talk about pride and sin, and where to find Arthurian retellings in modern literature. Links "The Ill Made Knight: Book 3 of The Once and Future King" by T.H. White Pete – “Up All Nig…

1
The Queen of Air and Darkness: The Once and Future King, Part 2 34:25

3+ y ago34:25

34:25

This section introduced new characters, and established important plot points, but it’s only about 100 pages long, and Jenny describes it as “whipplashy” because it jumps around from place to place. Is this the result of White's radical rewriting and editing between the original version in “The Witch in the Wood” and the omnibus version? If there a…

1
The Sword in the Stone: The Once and Future King, Part 1 28:51

3+ y ago28:51

28:51

Jennie takes us on a tour of medieval English history, as seen through T.H. White's creation of King Arthur's childhood, with many spoilers. Links: Megan - Audiobook of “A Promised Land” by Barak Obama Pete – "Tanking to the Top" by Yaron Weitzman Jennie – "A Criminal Magic" by Lee Kelly and "The Forgotten Kingdom" By Signe Pike…

1
Rebecca: Classic of Gothic Horror 37:00

3+ y ago37:00

37:00

Jennie, Pete, Megan and Alex explore what makes this classic of gothic horror so horrible. Standard warning for many spoilers and some bad puns. Links: Jennie – “The Twisted Ones” by T. Kingfisher Megan – “Me: Elton John Official Autobiography” - audiobook ready by Taron Egerton and “First Comes Like” by Alisha Rai Pete – Twin Peaks 2017…

1
Dune, Part 3: It All Comes Together with a Big Bang! 31:34

3+ y ago31:34

31:34

We wrap up the final part of Frank Herbert's "Dune," find out who is reading "Dune Messiah," and discuss the David Lynch film (because you really have to). Links: Megan is reading “Song of Wraiths and Ruins” by Roseanne A Brown and “I’ll Be the One” by Lyla Lee Jennie recommends attending the Library's Escapism Book Club, and is reading "Dune Messi…

1
Dune, Part 2: Into the Desert 31:05

3+ y ago31:05

31:05

This week Jennie, Megan and Pete travel across the sands of Dune, and explore Paul's version of the Hero's Journey. Links: Jennie - Listening to the Dirt Cheap podcast. Megan - Reading "Normal People" by Sally Rooney Pete - Reading Rural Noir by authors like Donald Ray Pollock, including "Devil all the Time," and "Winter's Bone"by Daniel Woodrell…

1
Dune, Part 1: Welcome Back! 28:50

3+ y ago28:50

28:50

Welcome back! Over the next six weeks, or three episodes of the podcast, we’ll be reading - and librarianing the heck out of - the first book in Frank Herbert’s epic Sci-Fi series, Dune. We chose Dune in part because it’s getting a lot of buzz, first-reads, and rereads this year, due to the new feature film coming out in 2021. In part one of Dune, …

1
We're Back! Season 2 (It's been a long 9 months) 12:18

3+ y ago12:18

12:18

As you might have noticed, the podcast has been on hiatus for a while. Not only have we been busy running a library during a pandemic, but we ran into a lot of technology problems trying to produce a podcast while teleworking. But we worked through those issues, and now we’re ready to bring you the return of the Big Book Club Podcast! We’ve made ch…