English Plus Podcast

Literature & Us 3 | Beyond "It Was Good": How to Talk About Books Like You've Always Wanted To


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We've all been there: you finish a book buzzing with thoughts, but when someone asks what you thought, you can only muster, "Uh... it was good." This language-focused episode is designed to change that forever. Danny provides a practical, non-academic toolkit of words and phrases to help you articulate your feelings and have richer, more engaging conversations about the stories you love.

This is your masterclass for your next book club meeting, your next chat with a friend, or even just for understanding your own reactions to a story on a deeper level.

In this episode, you'll get your toolkit for discussing:

  • Genre:Go beyond the basics to talk about subgenres (like "hard sci-fi" vs. "space opera") and genre-bending
  • Plot & Theme:Learn the crucial difference between the two and get vocabulary to discuss a story's pacing, plot twists, and its deeper meaning.
  • Characters:Talk with nuance about a protagonist's character arc, whether they are a "flat" or "round" character, and the rise of the anti-hero.
  • Narrative Style:Understand how point of view (first-person, third-person omniscient, etc.) and the author's prose (is it sparse or lyrical?) shape your reading experience.
  • To unlock full access to all our episodes, consider becoming a premium subscriber on Apple Podcasts or Patreon. And don’t forget to visit englishpluspodcast.com for even more content, including articles, in-depth studies, and our brand-new audio series and courses now available in our Patreon Shop!

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    English Plus PodcastBy Danny Ballan

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