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Cracking the Spine episodes
- Episode Sixty and Nine - DudesHow far are we willing to take a joke? Let's say we go one past sixty eight and one before seventy. But it's not what you think. Unless it is what you think. In which case, man, you're smart. Listen. Josh, Zane and Sean go to places in books you've likely never been before.45 min
- Episode Sixty and Eight - Analyze DisWhen our listeners suggest topics, we listen. And this time, we dig down deep to discuss book analysis. You might be surprised that one third of the hosts doesn't think of himself/herself as overly analytic, one third feels he/she is incredibly analytical, and the other comes down right in the middle. The gang also manages to work Skyrim into the conversation, and Zane goes off the reservation and picks her own book to read. Sean is flabbergasted. You'll laugh. We promise.39 min
- Episode Sixty and Seven - Lazy Hazy Crazy Summer ReadsHave you guys sent us an email recently? If not, you really should. It's a good way to stay in touch with us, but also, it's a great way for us to hear from you. And this week we hear from a listener who gave us a fantastic show suggestion. Memorial Day has come and gone, which means that summer has (unofficially) started. Zane, Josh and Sean talk about what makes a book a particularly good summer read. There's also some J. Lo talk, some klaxons, a frog, and a motorcycle. Just the usual joyousness that is Cracking the Spine!35 min
- Episode Sixty and Six - Does Size Matter?The greatest subreddit on the Internet comes through again with an incredibly interesting topic - in terms of novels, do you prefer a larger world view or something smaller and more intimate? Trust me: Sean, Zane and Josh have opinions on this. They also coo over a business card and lament the very real threat of book censorship.45 min
- Episode Sixty and Five: S-M-R-TA listener comes through again this week with another great topic: is there any truth behind the perception that reading a book is a "smarter" way of getting a story or is it just a time-honored bias that has no meaning. You'll discover that the crew has no easy answers. Unless the question is, "What is Josh's big snack this week?" Tune in, and we guarantee* you'll be smarter than before you listened!
(*not a guarantee)43 min - Episode Sixty and Four - Lend Me Your Ear (and a Book)
Once again the listeners come through with a topic that at first glance may seem trivial, but is in fact quite thought-provoking. Josh, Sean and Zane discuss the pressure one feels from loaning out a book, or from having a book loaned to them. They each come at the stress of the idea from a different place, making this week's show feel more like group therapy than a podcast. And when you consider how much some people pay for psychoanalysis, you're pretty lucky to get this for free! And they obviously couldn't avoid the one, the only Dr. Chuck Tingle.
Books mentioned:
But What If We're Wrong?: Thinking about the Present as If It Were the Past by: Chuck Klosterman
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by: Erik Larson
I’m Thinking Of Ending Things by: Iain Reid
Soolie Beetch And The Dying Light by: Gypsie Raleigh
War Porn by: Roy Scranton
Haunted by: Chuck Palahniuk
The Fireman by: Joe Hill
Snow Crash by: Neal Stephenson
45 min - Episode Sixty and Three - Heroes You Love to Hate
This week the crew discusses a topic of Sean's choosing - the protagonists that you love to hate. And with these three, you know the vitriol is all over the place. There's also talk of Hugo Award puppies, a show listener's first published novel, and, of course, Mr. Chuck Tingle. If you love hate, this is the show for you!
Books mentioned:
Thirst by: Benjamin Warner
Soolie Beetch And The Dying Light by: Gypsie Raleigh
The Name Of The Wind by: Patrick Rothfuss
Don’t You Cry by: Mary Kubica
But What If We're Wrong?: Thinking about the Present as If It Were the Past By: Chuck Klosterman
The Catcher In The Rye by: J. D. Salinger
The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer by: Mark Twain
The Hunger Games by: Suzanne Collins
Great Expectations by: Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol by: Charles Dickens
Return Of The King by: J. R. R. Tolkien
The Green Mile: The Complete Serial Novel by: Stephen King
The Girl On The Train by: Paula Hawkins
A Gray Man by: Luke Gelheiser
49 min - Episode Sixty and Two - Bad Guys
Your heroes (that is: Zane, Josh and Sean) get a suggestion from one of their heroes (that is: you wonderful listeners) and talk about villains (that is: bad guys). They do such a good job of it, that we're pretty sure they talk about every single villain in all of written literature. You should listen to see if they missed anyone. There's also a lengthy (but very much needed) discussion of the world of Paw Patrol. It's deep.
Books mentioned:
Don’t You Cry by: Mary Kubica
Fellside by: M. R. Carey
Thirst by: Benjamin Warner
But What If We're Wrong?: Thinking about the Present as If It Were the Past by: Chuck Klosterman
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by: Erik Larson
Fight Club by: Chuck Palahniuk
American Psycho by: Bret Easton Ellis
Moby Dick by: Herman Melville
Red Dragon by: Thomas Harris
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone by: J. K. Rowling
The Lord Of The Rings by: J. R. R. Tolkien
The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes by: Arthur Conan Doyle
The Dark Tower by: Stephen King
It by: Stephen King
Dracula by: Bram Stoker
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by: Stieg Larsson
The Lies Of Locke Lamora by: Scott Lynch
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest by: Ken Kesey
The Three Musketeers by: Alexandre Dumas
The Count Of Monte Cristo by: Alexandre Dumas
Something Wicked This Way Comes by: Ray Bradbury
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From The Making Of The Princess Bride by: Cary Elwes
44 min - Episode Sixty and One - Book Clubs
This week the gang stays completely on topic and never once wavers nor gets off on tangents. Really. Never. Not even once. We stay so laser-focused on the topic of book clubs that if you pointed this week's episode at a mass of hydrogen gas, there would be pure nuclear fusion. You've never heard us so focused. Don't believe me? Listen up and learn something!
Books Mentioned:
The Woman In Cabin 10 by: Ruth Ware
Fellside by: M.R. Carey
The Girl With All The Gifts by: M.R. Carey
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by: Erik Larson
Thirst by: Benjamin Warner
Haunted by: Chuck Palahniuk
Feeling The Bern In My Butt by: Chuck Tingle
36 min - Episode Sixty - Audio Books (Or: The Compliment Show)
This week you get to listen to an audio podcast with audio hosts talking about audio books. This is one from way back in the listener suggestion vault, but no less worthy for sitting for so long. Sean, Zane and Josh opine on what literary audio excursions they've been on, and how often they make the trip. Come along and LISTEN!
Books Mentioned:
Disappearance At Devil’s Rock by: Paul Tremblay
Pax by: Sara Pennypacker
The Woman In Cabin 10 by: Ruth Ware
In A Dark, Dark Wood by: Ruth Ware
But What If We're Wrong?: Thinking about the Present as If It Were the Past by: Chuck Klosterman
Ready Player One by: Ernest Cline
Nothing’s Sacred by: Lewis Black
Bossypants by: Tina Fey
Yes, Please by: Amy Poehler
Game Of Thrones by: George R. R. Martin
37 min
About Cracking the Spine
From the publisher's feed
Cracking the Spine is a weekly podcast centered around the world of literature. Topics cover the wide range of issues associated with books, publishing, and the literary world in general. Host Sean…
Curran is a passionate bookseller and life-long readers who strives for open and honest conversation, occasionally moving into the realm of debate. While the discourse may be serious at times, the hosts hope that there is an air of fun to the proceedings. The goal is for every topic to be handled truthfully, every opinion given its fair time, and every guest receive a respectful welcome.