Beyond the PhIrst Page

In book club 17, Phebe, Isaac and Phil discuss Van Gogh: The Life. They discuss what “it” was to Vincent and also what “it” is to them. The siblings draw comparisons between Van Gogh and Micheal Jordan and provide commentary on what they would change about the way this biography was written. As always they provide great recommendations for their listeners on what to read next including a Game of Thrones doppelgänger that Phil recently enjoyed. 

This weeks episode the siblings are in their element talking about A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan! They talk favorite mythical creatures and what they like to see in a good fantasy series. They also discuss the unique way this story was written and how the memoir style of writing really captured them! As always they concluded the club meeting with recommendations for their listeners.

This week's club meeting dives into Beloved by Toni Morrison. The siblings discuss how they are blown away by the research Morrison did and the messages she conveyed throughout the book that really shed light on the atrocities of slavery and the repercussions it had on Sethe, the main character, and her family and community. Also in this episode they share books that readers would enjoy if they liked Beloved as well as books they are currently reading that they recommend.

Go beyond the PhIrst Page in this week’s club meeting with

On this week’s episode of Beyond the PhIrst Page podcast

Beyond the PhIrst Page mixes it up this week during their virtual book club meeting! Siblings Phil, Phebe and Isaac use professor and author George Saunders method of analyzing literature to discuss Foster a short story by Claire Keegan. Each of the siblings read you one of their favorite passages from the story and then answer the following four questions:

This week during their virtual book club meeting siblings Phil, Phebe and Isaac discuss The Hunter by Tana French. They get into a dispute about whether this book is a slow burn or a final glowing ember. Phil also floats the "meta" concept that the town is the main character in this novel. Listen along as they also give you some fabulous murder mystery recommendations as well as keep you updated on what they are reading and loving currently in the literary world. Go Beyond the Phirst page with them as they discuss The Hunter!

Siblings Phil, Phebe and Isaac's virtual book club discussing The Women by Kristin Hannah. This week, Phebe Isaac and Phil talk about whether they prefer historical fiction or based on a true story, love stories, and their aversion to them in Isaac's case, and PTSD and how well Hannah did at portraying that throughout The Women. They also share which fictional characters the other siblings are most like and what books they are currently reading that they think you would enjoy! Go Beyond the Phirst page with them as they discuss The Women!

Siblings Phil, Phebe and Isaac's virtual book club discussing The Fury by Alex Michaelides. This week, they discuss how point of view can effect how you perceive the narrator and friend group dynamics. Isaac also raises the question in a book like this, if you hated the narrator does that mean that the story was in fact well written? The siblings discuss whether the Silent Patient author delivers again on his third novel. At the end get some great recs both related to The Fury and for other awesome books that the siblings know you will love!

Siblings Phil, Phebe and Isaac's virtual book club discussing The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne. They talk about the challenges that the main character Cyril faces being gay in Ireland in the mid to late 1900s, as well as concepts of home and how Boyne used humor to lighten the heavy topics this sweeping novel addresses. At the end get some great recs both related to The Hearts Invisible Furies and for other awesome books that the siblings know you will love!