We’ve all said it: “I wish I could read that again for the first time.” But what do we really mean when we say it? In this episode, Trevor and Paul explore the magic of first encounters with books. Is it about surprise? Youth? Timing? Being unprepared in the best possible way? Or is it about discovering not just a book, but a new way of reading, thinking, or feeling?

Along the way, we talk about books that opened doors, books we read at exactly the right (or wrong) moment, what rereading gives us. A conversation about memory, generosity, regret, delight, and why reading remains endlessly alive.

2026 Novella Book Club

We have announced the four novellas we will be reading for The Mookse and Gripes Novella Book Club in 2026!

* January: Daisy Miller, by Henry James

* April: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira

* July: The Hour of the Star, by Clarice Lispector

* September: Prelude, by Katherine Mansfield

Discussions will be hosted at The Mookse and the Gripes Discord (see below!).

We’ve got some fantastic author-focused episodes lined up for the foreseeable future, and we want to give you plenty of time to dive in if you’d like to read along with us. These episodes come around every ten episodes, and with our bi-weekly release schedule, you’ll have a few months to get ready for each. Here’s what we have in store:

* Episode 125: Flannery O’Connor

* Episode 135: William Faulkner

* Episode 145: Elizabeth Taylor

* Episode 155: Naguib Mahfouz

There’s no rush—take your time, and grab a book (or two, or three) so you’re prepared for these as they come!

Shownotes

What are you reading?

* Paul: House of Day, House of Night, by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones

* Trevor: The Comforters, by Muriel Spark

Paul’s Picks

* It, by Stephen King

* On the Road, by Jack Kerouac

* Tree of Smoke, by Denis Johnson

Trevor’s Picks

* To the Lighthouse, by Virginia Woolf

* Austerlitz, by W.G. Sebald, translated by Anthea Bell

* No Tomorrow, by Vivant Denon, translated by Lydia Davis

Other Books & Works Mentioned

* Flights, by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Jennifer Croft

* Pilgrimage, by Dorothy Richardson

* Bomarzo, by Manuel Mujica Lainez, translated by Gregory Rabassa

* Lolly Willowes, by Sylvia Townsend Warner

* And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie

* Atonement, by Ian McEwan

* The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas

* House of Leaves, by Mark Z. Danielewski

* Jesus’ Son, by Denis Johnson

* Train Dreams, by Denis Johnson

* The Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James

* The Ambassadors, by Henry James

* Infinite Jest, by David Foster Wallace

Join the Mookse and the Gripes on Discord

Want to share your thoughts on these upcoming authors or anything else we’re discussing? Join us over on Discord! It’s the perfect place to dive deeper into the conversation—whether you’re reading along with our author-focused episodes or just want to chat about the books that are on your mind.

We’re also just now in the first novella book club of 2026, where we’re reading Daisy Miller, by Henry James. It’s a fantastic book, and we’d love to have you join the discussion. It’s a great space to engage with fellow listeners, share your insights, and discover new perspectives on the books you’re reading.

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast is a bookish conversation hosted by Paul and Trevor. Every other week, we explore a bookish topic and celebrate our love of reading. We’re glad you’re here, and we hope you’ll continue to join us on this literary journey!

A huge thank you to those who help make this podcast possible! If you’d like to support us, you can do so via Substack or Patreon. Subscribers receive access to periodic bonus episodes and early access to all new episodes. Plus, each supporter gets their own dedicated feed, allowing them to download episodes a few days before they’re released to the public. We’d love for you to check it out!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe