The Bookening

So it has come to this. Our heroes continue to address criticisms of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, using words like critical race theory, representation, and privilege. Was Harper Lee a coward for writing the novel the way she did? Did Tom Robinson deserve more book time? Listen on!

It's Part 2 of our discussion on To Kill a Mockingbird by the great Harper Lee. Our heroes provide some baggage, discuss whether this is THE great American novel, and handle some criticisms, including one by Flannery O'Connor. 

Oh boy oh boy. We're discussing one of the great American novels, starting today, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Brandon provides some much needed context on this work, managing to work in thoughts on the Civil Rights movement, the Harlem Renaissance, and where conservatives western canon types  get it wrong. Plus the drama surrounding Go Set a Watchman. And whether or not Truman Capote actually had anything to do with this novel or not. Hooray! 

Moria! Moria! Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria Moria! In this episode our heroes continue their discussion of Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien and talk about .......... Lothlorian! And Moria! And why it's hard for Americans to wrap their heads about elves. And other things! Hooray! Next week we start To Kill a Mockingbird. 

Oh brother. In this Dadaesque episode of The Bookening our heroes discuss Waiting for Godot by Samuel Becket. At least it is arguable that they do this, but it sounds like some sort of gas was released into the room. Or something. Anyway, along the way, they talk a lot about existentialism, Brandon makes a date with the Knight of Infinite Resignation, and a beloved new catchphrase is born based on Nietzsche's mustache. DON'T MISS OUT!  

Yessir, we're talking about The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham, that classic touchstone that everybody loves and has definitely heard of. Actually this is an interesting book, and Brandon gives an interesting context, discussing the idea of the artist as cultural high-priest, negative capability, and all kinds of fun stuff. Give it a listen. Would you be reading this if you were not going to?

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Um, what a weird book. The Bookening wraps their head around The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White. Or tries to. As usual (it seems) when we come to children's literature, we're a little unsure of what to say. What a weird book. 

We tried to get far in this episode. In fact, we got all the way from Tom Bombadil to the Council of Elrond. But there's still plenty of Fellowship of the Ring left to talk about, and we are not sad about this, as it is an awesome book! Yay! WHAT'S WITH THE BARROW WIGHTS? How did we like dem elves? What about the introduction of Strider? SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT!

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The Bookening is talkin' Lord of the Rings, namely The Fellowship of the Ring (Book 1) by J.R.R. Tolkien, a book that, in their opinion, holds up quite well. Subjects include: that fey, suggestive feeling Tolkien is able to inspire, the condescension or lack thereof with which Tolkien approaches the hobbits, whether the story takes too long to get going, the potency of the ring as a literary conceit, and whether Tom Bobadil is a good section or not. SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

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Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes. A book that every parent or teacher assigns and no kid likes. Well, The Bookening decided to actually read it as adults, and it turns out it may not be half bad. At least one of us is prepared to argue pretty staunchly for it. That's the topic of today's episode. LISTEN TO IT AND YOU WILL BENEFIT GREATLY. Next week, more Tolkien.

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