Snoozecast

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, an Englishwoman whose family moves in order to lower their expenses, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife.

In the last episode, starting at chapter 17, Anne visits her old school friend, Mrs. Smith, who now lives in modest circumstances due to her husband's debts and death. Despite her hardships, Mrs. Smith is cheerful and spirited. Anne values their renewed friendship, though her family looks down on the connection.

The chapter highlights Anne’s increasing clarity: while Mr. Elliot offers social security and admiration, it is not the kind of love she desires. Her renewed bond with Mrs. Smith also underscores her loyalty and sensitivity to genuine character over status. We will pick up mid-conversation between Lady Russell and Anne. Lady Russell is trying to persuade Anne to consider marrying Mr. Elliot.

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Tonight, for our monthly Snoozecast+ Deluxe bonus episode we’ll read the short story “All Gold Canyon” by Jack London.

First published in 1905, this tale was later included in London’s collection The Strength of the Strong. It opens on a pristine valley untouched by human hands, where nature reigns supreme—until a lone prospector arrives in search of fortune. What follows is a tense and gripping account of man’s pursuit of gold, told in vivid detail with London’s trademark blend of realism and natural beauty.

Jack London, best known for works like The Call of the Wild and White Fang, was deeply interested in the frontier spirit and the raw struggle for survival. In this story, he captures not only the richness of the American West but also the precarious balance between ambition and the natural world.

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Tonight, we’ll continue the 1928 children's book by A. A. Milne “The house at Pooh Corner”.

In the last episode Rabbit spends the morning dashing around the Forest, organizing everyone and investigating a cryptic notice on Christopher Robin’s door, consulting Owl, Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore to figure out what Christopher Robin has been doing each morning. In the end, they discover from the revised notice “GONE OUT / BACK SOON” that Christopher Robin simply goes out to learn and explore, returning later in the day.

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Tonight, we’ll read a fairy tale called “The Invisible Prince,” found in “The Yellow Fairy Book” edited by Andrew Lang and published in 1894. This story is about The Prince of Air and how he overcame adversity and found his way to The Golden Isle.

Andrew Lang was a Scottish poet, novelist, and literary critic best known for his influential "Fairy Books"—a twelve-volume series that gathered tales from a wide range of cultures. Each volume was named for a different color and included a mix of well-known stories and lesser-known folktales, translated and adapted with the help of his wife, Leonora.

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Tonight, we’ll read from the ninth chapter of British naturalist Charles Darwin’s “The Voyage of the Beagle” titled “Santa Cruz, Patagonia and the Falkland Islands”.
The five-year expedition laid the groundwork for Darwin’s later theory of evolution by natural selection.
In this chapter, Darwin recounts an overland expedition up the Santa Cruz River in southern Patagonia. The landscape is stark and repetitive, with shingle plains, thorny bushes, and a scarcity of birds or waterfowl. Darwin documents vast flows of basaltic lava and enormous erratic boulders, offering early insights into glacial and marine forces that shaped the land. His observations blend physical hardship with scientific wonder, as he marvels at condors circling above the cliffs and theorizes about the slow, ancient processes that carved the Patagonian terrain.
If you’d like to start from the beginning, the first episode of this series aired on June 10th, 2024, with subsequent monthly episodes exploring Darwin’s journey in detail.

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Tonight, we’ll read a selection of recipes from the book English Housewifry by Elizabeth Moxon, published in 1764, starting with a recipe for whipt sillabubs.
Moxon’s book was one of the earliest English cookery books written specifically for middle-class women managing their own households, rather than for professional cooks or the aristocracy. Her recipes are practical but far from plain, offering glimpses into both the culinary expectations and the social rituals of Georgian-era domestic life.
The title page promises recipes that are “useful, substantial and splendid,” and the tone throughout is no-nonsense, with an emphasis on health and frugality—though it’s clear Moxon didn’t shy away from a bit of showiness in presentation. A whipt sillabub, for example, was a frothy dessert drink made of sweetened wine or cider and thickened cream, often served in decorative glasses and topped with foam. It’s the kind of indulgence that would have delighted guests at a genteel supper table, bridging the gap between refreshment and dessert.

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Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from “The Myrtle Reed Cook Book” written by Myrtle Reed and published in 1916. Reed was an American author, poet, journalist, and philanthropist.

Reed’s cook book blends recipes with spirited commentary on everything from kitchen organization to the art of table service.

At the time of its publication, domestic science was gaining popularity, with cookbooks increasingly serving as lifestyle guides for middle-class households. This is the second time we’ve featured excerpts from this particular book- if you enjoy tonight’s episode, check out Snoozecast’s episode “The Doilied Breakfast Table” that last aired in June of 2023.

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Tonight, we’ll read the 28th chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “An Unfortunate Lily Maid”

In the last episode, Marilla returns home one spring evening thrilled by the season’s promise, only to discover there’s no fire, no tea—and no Anne. After fuming in the kitchen and questioning Matthew, she fetches a candle in Anne’s room and finds her hiding tearfully among the pillows. Anne confesses she spent her chicken-money on a peddler’s hair dye, hoping for raven-black locks but ending up with a ghastly green mane. When daily washings fail, Marilla decrees the only cure is to cut Anne’s hair off, leaving her shingled head looking “like a scarecrow.” In the aftermath, Anne resolves to be good instead of vain, and Marilla—even amid her headaches—admits she rather enjoys Anne’s lively chatter.

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Introducing Ocean Vuong: "The Emperor Of Gladness" | Oprah's Book Club from The Oprah Podcast.

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The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-emperor-of-gladness/id6736382187

https://open.spotify.com/episode/50VqT29k6PQqGQzUnenogD

In this episode of Oprah’s Book Club: Presented by Starbucks, Oprah sits down with acclaimed author Ocean Vuong to discuss his much-anticipated new novel, The Emperor of Gladness.

Chosen as the 114th Oprah’s Book Club selection, The Emperor of Gladness reveals the many ways love, labor and loneliness show up in American life. The novel begins on a summer evening in the post-industrial town of East Gladness, Connecticut, where nineteen-year-old Hai stands on the edge of a bridge ready to jump. An elderly widow suffering from dementia intervenes and the unlikely pair form a life-altering bond. In this episode, Ocean discusses this deeply personal narrative and his gift of illuminating the fullness of humanity in the most ordinary of places.

Oprah and Ocean are joined by a live audience in a Starbucks Café in Chicago, enjoying the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, layered with flavors of brown sugar, cinnamon and Starbucks® Blonde Espresso Roast.

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DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Tonight, we’ll read an Icelandic fairy tale called “Litill, Tritill, the Birds, and the Peasant Lad” translated and edited by Mrs. A. W. Hall and published in 1897.

Like many folk and fairy tales, the exact origins are complicated and sometimes unclear. The more well-known Crimson Fairy Book edited by Andrew Lang cites this story as having Hungarian origin. However, there are at least two earlier publications that are specifically Icelandic compilations that include this story.

Iceland has a rich tradition of storytelling, with folktales passed down through oral tradition for centuries before being committed to print. Stories often traveled across borders and were reshaped by local customs, so it’s not surprising to find the same tale appearing in different collections with varied national attributions. What remains consistent in this version is its distinctly Icelandic sensibility—featuring a humble protagonist, mysterious helpers, and a clever unraveling of magical obstacles, all set against the stark yet enchanted landscapes typical of Northern European lore.

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