Classics and Coffee

In this episode, Matthew and Juliette discuss Kate Chopin's The Awakening (1899), a novel that The Nation, in reviewing the novel, said "The Awakening is the sad story of a Southern lady who wanted to do what she wanted to. From wanting to, she did, with disastrous consequences." Chopin's novel is an important feminist novel of the Victorian period, highlighting the constrictions of a patriarchal society that positioned women as nothing more than wives, mothers, and domestic beings.

Matthew and Juliette talk about Chopin's novel in relation to patriarchal society and also discuss some of the problems with the novel, notably Chopin's representation of African American characters.

In this episode, Matthew and Juliette speak with National Book Award winning author and illustrator Nate Powell about his latest book Fall Through, a graphic novel steeped in magical realism about a punk band named Diamond Mine as they embark on their final tour. They talk about playing music during their late teens and early twenties, punk rock, nostalgia, and much more.

You can visit Nate on his website, See My Brother Dance, and follow him on Instagram at @seemybrotherdance.

Matthew's coffee selection for this episode is ⁠Portrait Coffee's Kindred.

In this episode, Matthew sits down with comics writer, illustrator, and professor John Jennings to talk about his recent Marvel comics series Silver Surfer: Ghost Light. While talking about Ghost Light's publication history, which dates back to 1969's Silver Surfer #5, they talk about what inspired the series, how Jennings constructed a backstory for Al B. Harper (Ghost Light), and how art serves as a form of memory.

Matthew's coffee selection for this episode is ⁠Portrait Coffee's Kindred.

In this episode, Matthew sits down with writer S.A. Cosby to talk about his latest novel All the Sinners Bleed, which Barack Obama named as one of his favorite reads of 2023. While talking about the novel, they also discuss the influence of Ernest Gaines on Cosby's writing, Southern literature, important voices in contemporary Southern literature such as Jesmyn Ward, and about their love for bands such as Mudhoney and Tool.

In her review of Cosby's latest, Carole V. Bell called the novel “deeply moving and memorable” and Bell continued by praising Cosby’s “mastery of socially conscious Southern Gothic.”

Matthew forgot to mention his coffee selection for this episode, but it is Portrait Coffee's Ethiopian blend.

Juliette and Matthew continue their conversation about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah. They discuss Ifemelu's and Obinze's immigrant experiences moving from Nigeria to the United States and England respectively. They also explore Ifemelu's and Obinze's encounters with racism and the exploration of Western colonialism. Americanah examines themes of identity, assimilation, and beauty standards, along with the impacts of colonialism and racism on personal and cultural identities.

Americanah has been translated into 29 languages, and it won the 2013 National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, among other honors.

Binyavanga Wainaina called Adichie's novel, "Fearless. A towering achievement…From the place of Africans in the race politics in America, to love across continents, Americanah dares to bring us a world of a confident and self-made woman making her way in these complicated times. This is the Africa of our future. Sublime, powerful and the most political of [Adichie’s] novels. She continues to blaze the way forward."

Join them as they drink some Lavazza coffee and talk about Adichie's 2013 novel.

Juliette's song choice for Americanah is Nina Simone's "Don't Let Me be Misunderstood"

Matthew's song choice for Americanah is Fela Kuti's "Zombie"

In chapter 5, Juliette and Matthew read Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah. They discuss Ifemelu's and Obinze's immigrant experiences moving from Nigeria to the United States and England respectively. They also explore Ifemelu's and Obinze's encounters with racism and the exploration of Western colonialism. Americanah examines themes of identity, assimilation, and beauty standards, along with the impacts of colonialism and racism on personal and cultural identities.

Americanah has been translated into 29 languages, and it won the 2013 National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, among other honors.

Binyavanga Wainaina called Adichie's novel, "Fearless. A towering achievement…From the place of Africans in the race politics in America, to love across continents, Americanah dares to bring us a world of a confident and self-made woman making her way in these complicated times. This is the Africa of our future. Sublime, powerful and the most political of [Adichie’s] novels. She continues to blaze the way forward."

Join them as they drink some Lavazza coffee and talk about Adichie's 2013 novel.

Toni Morrison's debut novel The Bluest Eye appeared in 1970, introducing the world to Morrison's literary genius. Since its debut, the novel has been one of the most challenged and banned books in the United States, according to the American Library Association. In this episode we talk about the current attempts to ban and remove books from libraries and the classroom.

On writing her novel, Morrison said, "When I wrote my first book, The Bluest Eye, I came at it as not a writer but as a a reader. And such a story didn't exist. Every little homely Black girl was a joke or didn't exist in literature. And I was eager to read about a story where racism really hurts and can destroy you."

Our song choice for The Bluest Eye is Propaganda's "Darkie" featuring Micah Bournes and Jackie Hill-Perry.

Join us as we talk about the importance of Morrison's novel and the continued impact it has on readers.

This episode's coffee is from Portrait Coffee and it is the El Salvador Santa Matilde. As well, check out Portrait Coffe's Toni which is, as they put it, "An unapologetically chocolate coffee with nutty tones. Inspired by the acclaimed author, Toni Morrison."

Toni Morrison's debut novel The Bluest Eye appeared in 1970, introducing the world to Morrison's literary genius. Since its debut, the novel has been one of the most challenged and banned books in the United States, according to the American Library Association.

In the novel, Morrison examines the psychological impact of racism on individuals, specifically, as she puts it, "the one least likely to withstand such damaging forces because of youth, gender, and race."

Join us as we talk about the importance of Morrison's novel and the continued impact it has on readers.

This episode's coffee is from Portrait Coffee and it is the El Salvador Santa Matilde. As well, check out Portrait Coffe's Toni which is, as they put it, "An unapologetically chocolate coffee with nutty tones. Inspired by the acclaimed author, Toni Morrison."

In chapter 3 part 2, we discuss William Gardner Smith's The Stone Face (1963). while enjoying Ethiopia Koke Washed coffee from Portrait Coffee!

Adam Shatz states that "The Stone Face explores a black exile's discovery of the suffering of others: an injustice perpetrated by his host country, a place he initially mistakes for paradise."

Smith's novel is extremely relevant, especially following the murder of Nahel Merzouk by Paris police in June and the uprisings that followed.

There is a lot in The Stone Face from the Black expatriate community in France to the Algerian war for independence. In this episode, we discuss a wide range of themes in the novel.

In this part, we talk about the epigraphs and what makes a book a classic!

In chapter 3, we discuss William Gardner Smith's The Stone Face (1963). while enjoying Ethiopia Koke Washed coffee from Portrait Coffee!

Adam Shatz states that "The Stone Face explores a black exile's discovery of the suffering of others: an injustice perpetrated by his host country, a place he initially mistakes for paradise."

Smith's novel is extremely relevant, especially following the murder of Nahel Merzouk by Paris police in June and the uprisings that followed.

There is a lot in The Stone Face from the Black expatriate community in France to the Algerian war for independence. In this episode, we discuss a wide range of themes in the novel.

You can read more about Matthew's thoughts about the novel on his blog.

You can listen our song choices--Brother Ali's "Before the Called You White" and The Muslims' "Illegals"--on YouTube as well.