Beyond the PhIrst Page

This club meeting the siblings discuss the following three texts from Black Writers of the Founding Era:

1. A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture

2. 1799 Petition of Absalom Jones, and Others, People of Color, and Freemen Against the Slave Trade to the Coast of Guinea

3. Belinda Sutton’s 1783 Petition

Professor Marquita Reed-Wright joins them in the conversation to lend her professional expertise on black writers in the founding era, activism, and black culture preserved through print. She sheds light on the fact that Black writers were integral to the founding of America. This episode is part of the America 250 Chapter celebrating America’s 250th Birthday. This chapter was inspired by House of Speakeasy’s book-mobile tour. The book-mobile will be handing out American texts critical to the founding of our country at various locations throughout the original 13 Colonies.

To kick off Chapter 3 the Beyond the PhIrst Page read a staple in American Revolution Literature, “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine. They discuss what each of them thought was the most compelling argument that Paine made for America to separate from Great Britain and how the text can be applied to America today. This chapter was inspired by House of Speakeasy’s “We The People Tour” where our friend Don is going to be driving the bookmobile to the 13 original colonies handing out free texts to celebrate the 250th birthday of America. 

Chapter 3 of the Beyond the PhIrst Page Podcast is celebrating the 250th Anniversary of America by reading texts about the American Revolution in collaboration with the "We The People x Library of America Bookmobile Tour." The siblings decided to read "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine, selections from "Black Writers of the Founding Era" and selections from "American Women’s Suffrage: Voices from the Long Struggle for the Vote 1776–1965." Follow along this chapter as we read these inspiring texts and check out the Bookmobile Tour as it goes through the 13 original colonies.

In this episode of Beyond the PhIrst Page Podcast the siblings get to talk with Don who studied philosophy at Princeton and focused specifically on the presocratic philosophers. There is no place this discussion doesn't go from Hollywood all the way to feminism isim in ancient greek texts. As always they end the episode with their recommendations if you liked Stephen Fry's retelling of the Odyssey as well as their ratings of the book.

This episode the siblings are discussing a classic in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. They discuss how the trailers to this new release give very different vibes than this novel does. This is less a love story and more of a revenge story. Phil also shares a few historical tidbits that really shed light on this story. As always, they end with book recommendations and their ratings of this book.

Beyond the PhIrst Page discusses Hamnet which is Maggie O’Farrell’s take on why Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. This book is unique because it is told from the perspective of Shakespeare’s wife Agnes or Anne Hathaway. The siblings discuss with Max who majored in Preforming Media Art at Cornell University about the subtle nods to Hamlet that this book had as well as the accessibility of this novel on the whole. As always they close with ratings and books to read if you enjoyed Hamnet. 

Chapter 2 is centered around recent books to movie adaptations.

The siblings saved the best for last! They close out Chapter One of 2026 with In the Woods by Tana French. The last installation in their detective novel chapter. They talk about how good this book is all around, plot, characters, and writing. This is a book for everyone but especially people who love a phycological murder mystery that will leave you wanting another book with these same characters! As always they close out with their ratings and books they recommend if you liked In the Woods.

Club Meeting 56 finds the siblings discussing book two in their Detective Novel Chapter: The Late Show by Michael Connelly. The siblings dub this book and series a classic for readers looking for a true cop book. They discuss the way that Connelly ties together his universe as well as somehow drawing a comparison between Renee Ballard, the main character, and a gynecologist?? Listen till the end to hear other detective novel recommendations and what the siblings rated this book!

This weeks episode kicks of the first book in Chapter One, our chapter on detective novels! We are starting off with a book by Anthony Horowitz called The Word is Murder. The unique aspect of this book is that Horowitz himself is a character in the book. The siblings discuss this nontraditional take on a detective novel, the parallels between this book and Sherlock Holmes and if red herrings are a cope out in mysteries. The siblings guest is an Oklahoma City Librarian and she gives great tidbits on using your local library and book clubs.