The Extra Curricular

Join Katie, Chase, and Juliana in this one-time-only reunion of the Talking Tolkien crew!

This week Katie, Sky and Lauren begin reading a new novel, The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham. Published in 1944, it tells the story of a young man who returns from World War I and turns away from society life on a spiritual quest. Discussion topics include: what it means to be a "snob," a Brit's delighted amusement about ice cream sodas, and the Summer of Shandy. 

We discuss episodes 1-3 of The Handmaid's Tale miniseries, now airing on Hulu in the USA. Discussion topics: Sucky Janine not sucky enough, Joseph Fiennes looks like a Rolex model, Scrabble rules not followed... but it's still very good!

Katie, Sky and Lauren discuss the 3rd-act twist of Candide - it really IS the best of all worlds! Ok, not really. 

Next Week: Episodes 1-3 of The Handmaid's Tale miniseries

Next Book: The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham

Candide Chapters 11-20. Katie, Sky and Lauren discuss a variety of boats,  question Voltaire's self-censorship, and make way, way, way too many references to a certain 2000 Dreamworks animated feature.

NOTE: This episode contains some foul language and adult situations. You know, if you're into that sort of thing.

Hot takes from 1759! Katie, Sky and Lauren jump into chapters 1-10 of Voltaire's satire Candide. Discussion topics: What if Candide's true identity is... Optimism? Footnotes vs. Endnotes. Who(m) does the old woman serve?

Katie, Sky and Lauren wrap up discussion of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, Section XIV "Salvaging," Section XV, "Night," and "Historical Notes." Discussion Topics: Why don't we learn Offred's real name? Who will Lars the Swede cast as Sucky Janine? And how long will cassette tapes keep in a footlocker sealed with packing tape?

Katie's microphone was sent to the Colonies so it will be one more week until we can all finish Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. But in this short announcement, our next book is disclosed in all of its glory!!!

Join us as we journey into Jezebel's! Discussion topics: cheap lipstick of the 1990s, what one might do with a match, and how Lars the Swede hints at an unreliable narrator. Katie, Sky and Lauren discuss The Handmaid's Tale section XII,  "Jezebel's" and section XIII, "Night."

Section IX "Night," Section X "Soul Scrolls," and Section XI, "Night." Large machines print an endless cycle of identical prayers reading them aloud to no one.... In this weeks episode of Interlibrary Loan, Katie kind of sounds like a robot too! But she, Sky and Lauren press on and ask: What has Luke lost? Could a Commander love his wife? And why does Offred want lotion in the summer?