In Maggie O'Farrell's novel, Hamnet, we are transported to the life of Agnes (Anne) Shakespeare. Though little is known historically about Shakespeares life, so much can be gleaned from what is known. O'Farrell has captured beautifully the grief that comes from loving and then losing a child. This book will at once make you weep, and look freshly upon the playwright that we know as William Shakespeare. Come along for our book club chat!

Harvard Professor and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, is an extraordinary American Historian. She has woven together a work that is by far the most comprehensive of its kind. Ulrich uses first hand accounts to build a personal look into the women and men who practiced plurality in the newly established Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It also delves into womens rights from 1835-1870. Join us for this book club chat!

Join us for this discussion of Julie Berry's young adult novel Lovely War. A romance that takes place during WWI as told by the gods of olympus. Highly readable, and highly serendipidous that I was able to find the recording of this podcast! I thought it was lost forever. Enjoy.

Having a spouse deploy is hard. Having him deploy for 11 months straight is even harder. Having him away while managing to keep healthy and alive your three young children is nigh impossible. Join me for a tell-all as I detail the comical crucible that has been my life for the last several months. Hopefully, it will make you think how glad you are to be you, and not me. Enjoy!

In this book club chat, we discuss Ted Chiang's compilation of short stories titled Exhalation. Although a sci-fi writer, his ability to focus on the human element is what makes the stories readable, memorable, and very fun to discuss. Come with us to consider how we capture memories, whether we have free will, and the self-awareness achieved through time-travel.

This book is a beautiful memoir that takes us on a journey through the cold months of the year. If you're looking for some ideas about how to better endure the winter months, or the emotional winters that occur in our lives, you'll want to give this book club chat a listen. You will be among friends while we talk about depression and anxiety and how to seek additional help while wintering.

For those of us who love a good murder mystery, or 10 mysterious murders, consider reading Agatha Christie's novel And Then There Were None. Christie has the mind of a puzzler, and you won't be able to put the pieces together--try as you might. Join us as we talk about these suspicious characters and the creepy atmosphere that come together on the secluded Soldier Island.

Join us for this book club chat in which we discuss Thomas Hardy's novel The Woodlanders. We have the privilege of reuniting with our dear, BYU professor, John Bennion, who is a Hardy expert and himself a novelist. We talk about how Hardy was superb at his craft because he could weave interesting stories set in beautiful landscapes, where the roll of nature is almost equally important as the rolls of the characters molded from it. A beautiful yet somber autumn read for anyone who could use a dose of British nature worship.

The Eye of the World is a fantasy book written by Robert Jordan. It is the first book in a very epic series, and in this episode we discuss some of the reasons that Jordan keeps the tension alive through using archetypes and impressive world and character building skills. A fun read to follow up with Tolstoy, as Jordan was a big fan.

Join us as we discuss Sue Monk Kidd's most recent novel, The Book of Longings. It is the story of Ana, wife of Jesus, who gives voice to silenced women of New Testament times, and in the meantime, finds her own. This book will stick with you and make you reimagine a time in history you thought you knew a little about.