Beyond the PhIrst Page

The week the Phirst Pagers discuss Charlotte Brontë’s classic, Jane Eyre! They get into what a modern day retelling of this would look like, red flags and themes of feminism throughout the book. Phebe tries to get a good yap session going as they discuss if Jane should have made the choices she did throughout the novel. They close with book recommendations and their overall rating of Jane Eyre. 

On Episode 34 of the Beyond the Phirst Page Podcast siblings Phebe, Phil, and Isaac discuss The Wager by David Grann. This book outlines a little known shipwreck off the coast of South America and the struggles the captain and crew face during their time at sea. The siblings have a few differing opinions when it comes to what the crew should have done, and if this story was worth reading. Listen along as they discuss the take away, characters and writing of The Wager. As always listen to the end for other great book recommendations! 

This week’s discussion is the first fan pick of the podcast, Martyr! The siblings get to talk with Noelle about her favorite book of 2024. Martyr is the perfect book club book and a debrief on the ending is much needed. Nothing is off the table when theorizing how they think this novel ends. The foursome also discusses what it means to be a martyr and if they thought certain characters rose to that status. As always the end the discussion with their ratings and recommendations on what people would like if they enjoyed Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. 

On this episode of Beyond the PhIrst Page Podcast, the sibs get to discuss Fire Weather by John Vaillant with BCG Climate and Sustainability Consultant Neil Slighton. Slighton offers insight around the call to action of this book which was centered around climate change and divesting from big oil. The book clubbers talk about the writing, event or topic and call to action of this book citing merits and short falls in all three categories. Listen to the end to get book recommendations if you liked Fire Weather and to hear what the club is reading next.

If you were confused about how Playground by Richard Powers ended this is the episode for you… because so were the second pagers. Club meeting 31 finds the siblings theorizing about what the books ending meant. They discuss how it was amazing to them that three people can read the same book and take away such different meanings from it. Listen along to see if any of the siblings had the same theory as you about Playground. As always the siblings end with a ranking of the book and suggestions if the listeners are looking for more books like Playground to dive into. 

In Club Meeting 30 The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter, the siblings introduce club members to the epic world of the Omehi People. Their world is full of fighting, love and dragons! Listen along as the siblings discuss all their favorite characters, plot points and point of view changes that had them flipping pages for more of this epic fantasy! As always the siblings rank this book, 5’s across the board! And they give their recommendations if you are looking for something like The Rage of Dragons to get your fantasy fix.

In the second episode of 2025, the siblings dive into a full analysis of Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips, the 2024 Pulitzer Prize winner. They break down the characters, plot, and writing, and ultimately discuss whether the book deserves the Pulitzer, from the perspective of three average readers. They get into the intense and disturbing sexual assault scene, which they found incredibly memorable—and unsettling—in a way none of them had experienced before. The episode wraps up with their final rankings of the book and recommendations for other titles if you enjoyed Night Watch.

The siblings discuss award winning novel James by Percival Everett for their first book club book of 2025. This book did not disappoint! The siblings discuss how Everett artfully used philosophy and this old “American classic,” to create a true masterpiece. The siblings discuss the hallucinations that James is having, the relationship he has with Huck and the importance of diction and the written word in this story. They end with discussing remakes and if this book was a remake or an original work. As always they close with recommendations of books if the fans were looking for something like James.

On the first episode of the new year, the siblings are releasing a special book club. Beyond the PhIrst Page Podcast got to talk with award winning Author RJ Barker about his newest trilogy the forsaken trilogy. They discussed everything from tropes to world building and RJ narrowly avoids spilling any of the details about the third and final book in the series that is coming out in the summer of 2025. As always the siblings end the conversation with recommendations from them and RJ if you are loving the Forsaken trilogy as much as they are!

In the final episode of Season 1 and 2024, the siblings hold A Calamity of Souls on trail. Phil and Isaac defend their opinions of the book in a court room style podcast with Phebe presiding as the judge and jury. Listen along as the prosecution and defense bring their cases forward with specific quotes and passages from the book. As always at the end, the siblings give you their recommendations if you liked A Calamity of Souls or are looking for another crime drama to sink your teeth into.