Literary Roadhouse: One Short Story, Once a Week

Discussion Notes: No One Here is Going to Save You

This week’s story: No One Here is Going to Save You by Julian Zabalbeascoa 

Next week’s story: Huevos Estrellados by Vanessa Bernice De La Cruz 

Rated: Clean

Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “No One Here is Going to Save You” by Julian Zabalbeascoa,  a story of a soldier during the Spanish civil war who is tasked with executing communists and a priest. Gerald and Andy disappointed with the story, but Anais enjoyed it. At the heart of the debate is how to write about fascism in a world saturated with the subject.

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Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.

 

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Discussion Notes: The Theresa Job

This week’s story: The Theresa Job by Colson Whitehead 

Next week’s story: No One Here Is Going To Save You by Julian Zabalbeascoa 

Rated: Clean Themes, Explicit Language (Host drops an ‘f’ bomb 😔 )

Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Theresa Job” by Colson Whitehead, a story of a hotel heist in 1950s New York City, centered on a reluctant fence. Gerald and Andy had a love-hate relationship with the story due to its abrupt ending. Anais does her best to help them see the ending through a different lens.

Have thoughts on this story?

Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.

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Discussion Notes: The City Born GreatThis week’s story: The City Born Great by N. K. Jemisin Next week’s story: The Theresa Job by Colson Whitehead Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The City Born Great” by N. K. Jemisin, an urban fantasy about a young New Yorker called upon to midwife the birth of a great city and fend off the eldritch hospitals that would feed on the newborn. All three hosts enjoyed the story — even Andy who might have preferred if the city were Chicago. Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.

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Discussion Notes: The Specialist’s HatThis week’s story: The Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link Next week’s story: The City Born Great by N. K. Jemisin Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Specialist’s Hat” by Kelly Link, a story about twin girls who move into the gothic home of a former poet who dabbled in the dark arts and killed his wife. Despite a lot of debate on this podcast, our hosts ended up giving this spooky, clever story similar ratings.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.

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Discussion Notes: FosterThis week’s story: Foster by Bryan Washington Next week’s story: The Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link Rated: EXPLICITGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Foster” by Bryan Washington, a story of a man estranged from his brother, struggling with his boyfriend, and refusing to name a cat. The story is explicit and so is this episode. The explicit nature of the story was a bit of a turn off for Gerald, but all three hosts enjoyed digging deep into this iceberg of a story. Scratch beneath the story, and there’s a lot to chew on.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.

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Discussion Notes: The InterlopersThis week’s story: The Interlopers by H. H. Munro Next week’s story: Foster by Bryan Washington Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Interlopers” by H. H. Munro (SAKI), a story of a long-running family dispute over wild lands that comes to a head when two men from either side are trapped beneath the same felled tree. In a surprising twist, the story reads like a dark comedy. All three hosts thoroughly enjoyed the story as much as they enjoyed saying “Wolves!”Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.

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Discussion Notes: Hot IceThis week’s story: Hot Ice by Stuart Dybek Next week’s story: The Interlopers by H.H. Munro (SAKI) Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Hot Ice” by Stuart Dybek, a Chicago native who brings the mid-century societal changes to life with the myth of a local saint. Andy identified with the story which struck true to his upbringing in Chicago.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.

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Discussion Notes: The Case For and Against Love Potions

This week’s story: The Case for and Against Love Potions by Imbolo Mbue 

Next week’s story: Hot Ice by Stuart Dybek 

Rated: Clean

Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Case for and Against Love Potions” by Imbolo Mbue , a story told by an over confident narrator to you, a person seeking advice on whether or not to use love potions. It is a very funny and subtle satire. The subtlety  unsettled Gerald and Anais who worried it could go over some readers’ heads for ill. This anxiety prompted a discussion on whether or not it’s the author’s job to account for that in their writing.

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Discussion Notes: Objects in SpaceThis week’s story: Objects in Space by Emily Davis Next week’s story: The Case for and Against Love Potions by Imbolo Mbue Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Objects in Space” by Emily Davis, a story of a young New York woman who heads west in search of clarity. Despite a consensus on the story’s merits, the story left our hosts wanting more.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.

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Discussion Notes: The Husband Stitch

This week’s story: The Husband Stitch by Carmen Maria Machado 

Next week’s story: Objects in Space by Emily Davis 

Rated: Explicit

Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Husband Stitch” by Carmen Maria Machado, a haunting story of a woman’s life, interspersed with fairytales about womanhood. All three hosts marveled at the brilliance of the story’s composition. As Anais repeated several times in this episode, this story is “next level.” 

Have thoughts on this story?

Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.

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We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.

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Looking for more to read?

Click here for a full list of all short stories discussed on the podcast.