Our love of ASCII art graphs reaches its zenith with this novel. Today we're talking about Crichton's famous "Odd Man Hypothesis" wherein only unmarried men are deemed capable of making key decisions.  Do we agree? As two (at least as of this recording) single men ourselves, we speak to our own decision-making acumen, albeit over many, many cocktails. We also question the "beard science" behind this novel. 

After two years of a global pandemic, who's ready to read the all-time classic virus scare story?! We revisit one of our childhood favorites to see how the author of Jurassic Park's first novel has aged. Q: How has the "cutting edge" 1960s science held up? A: About as well as Bell Bottoms and Segregation.

What conversation about The Republic Gilead would be complete without a thorough discussion of "Salvaging?" We also give the Aunts their due, especially as it relates to the masculine archetypes they appropriate to hold onto  power in this patriarchal society. And we ask the age old question: how close is Boston to actually becoming a biblical dystopia?

Today we pick apart the sad sack that is Commander Fred and ponder what is it about the Commanders that the NFL found worthy enough to honor with a team name. We'll also take a virtual trip to Jezebel's and have an honest conversation around some of the myths of male sexuality. Just your average, light-hearted podcast conversations, brought to you by Gilead. 

We're drinking "Blessed be the Fruit" cocktails courtesy of the Stardust's wonderful bartender (and suspected Eye) Crystal. Our exploration of the men within the society of The Handmaid's Tale continues with discussions  about Nick, the guardians, and the fertility doctors. So, the conversation isn't getting any less grim, but we at least take a few cheap shots at religion once the booze kicks in. 

The Handmaid's Tale, from the perspective no one wants to tackle: The Men of Gilead! But seriously, even those supporting and defending this nightmarish patriarchy seem miserable. If the men aren't enjoying this dystopia created to solely benefit them, who is it for?! In this episode we talk about the mechanics of Atwood's brilliant writing-- how she creates this masterpiece of sci-fi/horror. And we'll also be looking into what makes Luke and some of the Angels tick. And as always, we'll be drinking enough to try to ignore just how much this novel gets right about our society as a whole. Under his eye! 

This week we're doing another dramatic reading by previewing our featured author for July, Yukio Mishima, with this shocking short story set in post-war Japan. Not only are there strong themes about fragile masculinity and the role of men as societal provider, but there are also rich under currents of anti-consumerism and a  yearning for Imperial restoration. It's a short story that packs a punch and one you won't soon forget. Join us as we read the story in its entirety and join us afterward as we sit down at the Stardust Lounge and discuss its many layers over a cocktail or two.

The gloves of off on this one! We must've still be harboring some St. Patrick's Day binge-drinking vigor because we come out of the gate hot and heavy on the antiquated masculinity Bourdain likes to champion in this book. But worry not, we make sure to give Anthony his due, as all men who desire to change and better themselves should be accorded. The later half of the episode features some frank discussion on Bourdain's choice to end his own life, so be aware as you listen if those kinds of conversations trouble you. We started this podcast to tackle the heavy issues as it relates to modern masculinity, but that doesn't mean our listeners need to put themselves through every dire situation we discuss.  Anthony Bourdain was a talent who left his mark on the world and whose legacy lives on with an entire generation of restaurateurs and culinary artists and we're grateful for the opportunity to share his memoir with you all.

We're back in studio (a darkly lit booth at the back of the Stardust Lounge) with our special guest, Chef David, to discuss more of Anthony Bourdain's pseudo-non-fiction memoir, "Kitchen Confidential." In this episode we peel back the layers of  masculinity (both toxic and puerile) described in Bourdain's kitchens and David gives us an insight into how the #MeToo movement has changed the restaurant industry. We also are three negronis deep into the evening, so expect several random references to obscure Saturday Night Live sketches and the occasional bleeped curse word. 

Season 2 kicks off with a three-part discussion of Anthony Bourdain's "Kitchen Confidential." This week's episode also features our first special guest, master chef and loyal listener, David. He's here will give us an additional glimpse behind the butler doors and help put into perspective what this nonfiction work has meant for the industry it exposes. 

So, light up your grill with cooking sherry and shield yourself in false male bravado, because we're pulling no punches with the classic restaurant industry "tell-all." While Bourdain's tome hasn't aged well, it's clear from his legacy with "No Reservations" and "Part Unknown" that men can grow and evolve and that's what we're all about here at Literary Guise. As we kick off our second season, we thrilled to have you along for the journey to learn and grow with us.