Is This Book a Classic?

In this episode, Liz and Grace discuss Thomas Hardy’s “Jude the Obscure”.

Why was this Hardy's most controversial novel? Why do depressing books matter? How was Hardy ahead of his time? And why did he gain a place in the canon? These are just some of the questions Liz and Grace will be asking in the podcast.

All links can be found on our Instagram

Cover art: @jinny_lee_photography

Music: Isla Cummings

“Misery porn” or a bona fide classic? Liz and Trudy discuss love, trauma, and friendship as they debate the book that has shaken both critics and the internet. “A Little Life” follows four friends who, after graduating, move to New York City and attempt to navigate their adult lives. As they grow and their complex relationships evolve, Yanagihara grapples with one key question: can anyone truly recover from the trauma of their past?

In this episode, we talk about how we first heard about the book, the mythology surrounding it, and the questions Yanagihara seems to raise. We discuss the controversial nature of the book, its critical and commercial success, and whether it should be dismissed for its relentless depiction of suffering or praised for its ability to evoke strong emotions. Finally, we consider why the book has struck such a chord in recent years and whether it will one day be regarded as a classic, using the criteria outlined by Italo Calvino in his seminal essay, “Why Read the Classics?”

All links can be found on our Instagram

Cover art: @jinny_lee_photography

Music: Isla Cummings