75 Reads

This book is timely, given the release of the Leaving Neverland documentary and the Me Too movement. It's the story of a middle aged literature professor / poet named Humbert Humbert, who is obsessed with a 12-year-old girl whom he calls Lolita, and with whom he becomes sexually involved after the death of her mother, once he is her guardian.

For such a hard subject to stomach, we actually found Nabokov's writing to be quite beautiful. At the end of part one of the book, we found Humbert to be clever and funny, even though he is despicable. And we found Lolita to be somewhat annoying, even though she is the victim. Struggling with these dichotomies, we press on to part two (which is covered in our next episode), and the dichotomies melt away. But let's save that for later. For now, please enjoy our conflicting emotions as we discuss of part one of Lolita.

Are you a Diamond Dogs fan, or not so much? Does it correlate to how you feel about George Orwell's 1984, the inspiration for the album? We can recognize 1984 as a great work. We can agree it's a great work, and be very happy not to have to read it again any time soon. And most people we've spoken with, whether they enjoyed 1984 or not, do recognize its merit. That isn't always the case for Bowie's Diamond Dogs. We dive into that, as well as some history behind the making of the album. And, we talk about the connection of the album to the book, and the feelings Diamond Dogs evoked in us both. Have a listen to the episode, and share your Diamond Dogs listening experience with us over on Twitter or Insta!

Well, we are back at it again with 1984. And we are so ready to be finished with this book. In the current political climate, it all hits a little too close to home. What we've learned from Winston and Julia is that when the mind just changes opinions like a switch that's flipped at the whim of the few who are in power, and when we deny what we see and what we know, we really are "as good as dead".

We read it as kids, and now we're revisiting it. 1984 by George Orwell. Originally published in 1949, it seems only to grow more relevant with time. And that is a frightening statement. Friends, to put it mildly, we are terrified. And while this book is an amazing work of literary genius, we can't wait to never have to read it again. Join us for part one of 1984, won't you? Let's all be afraid together.

We're talking about the second half of The Street, by Ann Petry. And we have feelings. More specifically, we were bothered. On so many levels. The second half of this wonderful book really struck some nerves with both of us, and we're letting it all out in this episode. Is it just us? Were you slightly enraged, as well? How far would you go to save the person you love most? And was Lutie somewhat delusional? Was she, or wasn't she, a good mother? Maybe it's not that simple. Let us know what you think!

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The Street is the story of a young, black, single mom, named Lutie Johnson who is struggling to raise her son, Bub, in the racial dissonance that was Harlem in the late 1940s. In this episode of 75 Reads, we're covering chapters one through nine. We talk about Lutie's cheating ex-husband, her sweet eight year old son (who, in our opinion is left alone entirely too often), her job working for a white family in the country, the reason why Lutie and several other characters in the book hate white people and blame them for the harsh circumstances they're in (for the record, we agree), and we start to set up a situation in the second part of the book that changes the trajectory of Lutie's and Bub's lives.

This book is powerful, friends. We can't wait to share it, and our thoughts, with you. And we can't wait to hear what you think! Tweet us your thoughts @75reads.

This episode isn't a book review, it's kind of a love letter to our beloved David Bowie on the month he came into this world and also left it. It's a few thoughts, a few facts, a few laughs. We hope you'll take a listen, and then take a moment to share how the art and the life of David Bowie has touched you, and impacted your life. Kindly tweet us at @75reads or comment on Instagram @75reads.

If tweeting isn't your jam, we love snail mail: P.O. Box 1564, South Pasadena, CA 91030-9998. *Bowie and book club related mail only, please*

Join us as we follow young Richard to the north. Will Chicago be the place where the color of his skin is no longer a factor in how Richard lives his life?

Friends, we had some feelings about part two of this wonderful book. Things we were afraid to say, but said anyway. Things we loved, things we wish we'd loved. It's all here in episode two.

For bonus info and blog posts by hosts, Jo Bozarth and April Bowlby, head over to https://www.75reads.com

And join in on the book club action on Twitter and Instagram. We're @75reads on both!

In our first 75 Reads book club episode, we're discussing part one of Black Boy by Richard Wright. We begin our journey with Richard as he goes from a young boy living in the Jim Crow south, and we follow him through high school and his impending departure to find a new life in the north.

Join us as we read the books that inspired the people who inspire us. Season 1 begins with David Bowie's recommended reads! We're starting with book 75 and working our way through to number 1.

For bonus info and 75 Reads blog posts by hosts, Jo Bozarth and April Bowlby, head over to https://www.75reads.com

And join in on the book club action on Twitter and Instagram!

It's the 75 Reads book club podcast! In season one, hosts Jo Bozarth and April Bowlby make their way through David Bowie's reading list. Here's a teaser of what's to come!

Join the book club! Find 75 Reads on Twitter: https://twitter.com/75reads

And keep up with posts from the ladies at: www.75reads.com