Cracking the Spine

By Sean Curran

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 Cu... more

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FAQs about Cracking the Spine:

How many episodes does Cracking the Spine have?

The podcast currently has 272 episodes available.

Cracking the Spine episodes:

June 16, 2016 Episode Sixty and Nine - Dudes
How 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.
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45min
June 09, 2016 Episode Sixty and Eight - Analyze Dis
When 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.
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39min
June 02, 2016 Episode Sixty and Seven - Lazy Hazy Crazy Summer Reads
Have 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!
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35min
May 26, 2016 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.
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45min
May 19, 2016 Episode Sixty and Five: S-M-R-T
A 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)
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43min
May 12, 2016 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
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45min
May 05, 2016 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
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49min
April 28, 2016 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
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44min
April 21, 2016 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
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36min
April 14, 2016 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
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37min

FAQs about Cracking the Spine:

How many episodes does Cracking the Spine have?

The podcast currently has 272 episodes available.