When a novella tells you in the jacket copy that twenty sailors went swimming and twenty-one came back, you know you're in for some mystery. But that's obviously not ALL the mystery. I'm still not sure I have all the answers but wow was it fun to look for them.

Including digressions about Dr. Seuss, iambic pentameter and so much more!

I re-read Hamnet because of the MOVIE adaptation, but was SHOOK by how deftly O'Farrell surmounts the MANY pitfalls of historical fiction.

We dive deep into: why her vision of the era is so vivid; how Shakespeare is everywhere but also nowhere; how this is a feminist novel; and all the ways the prose transports, affects and inspires the reader. Seriously, treat yourself now.

NO READING REQUIRED! Kimberly explains why FRANKENSTEIN is more relevant than ever. Treat yourself to discussion of: Mary Shelley's insanely colorful life, elements of the gothic novel, what makes the prose so timeless, Percy Bysshe Shelley's role--and why we all need to hear the classic novel's CAUTIONARY TALE.

You might think of CARRIE is just SCARY , but narrative stance, sophisticated structure, use of motif and "scientific evidence" are all integral in making it so good. Treat yourself .

Ditlevsen's three-volume memoir has made a huge impression on American readers. When I found it slightly underwhelming, I wondered if I would appreciate the work more fully if I knew her FICTION. She's hugely critically acclaimed in her native Denmark. She's written 29 books. A look at one very short story will shift your perspective, leaving you with a much deeper appreciation of this literary icon.

I was really moved by Salvage the Bones. Tune in to find out why Ward's work just keeps getting better and better.

Weirdly, amazon added the subtitle "A Detective Mystery" to Small Mercies. When one of the best things about this book is that it's NOT a detective at the center. You all know this genre isn't my usual fare, but Lehane's historical focus, together with his excellent prose, and dialogue (plus plot, duh) made this so satisfying to dive into.

Isabel Allende's THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS didn't just build upon the magic realism established by García Márquez's ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE. Allende's 1982 novel (published in Spain, not her native Chile for political reasons) was immensely popular with Americans when it was published in English in 1985. Indulge in a reminder of these absolute masterpieces while learning more about how they relate to one another, more about magic realism in general, and how the historical-political situations in Colombia and Chile influenced both works. Kimberly had SO much fun with this. Join in now.

Whether you've loved Mrs. Dalloway forever or Woolf is new to you, there's nothing more satisfying than thinking about this book for 45 minutes. We do a quick bio, a little chunk on modernism then a deep dive into the SEXY parts of the book. Indulge now and come away a little smarter.

What an honor to add my voice to the important chorus extolling everyone's favorite kid book, Frog and Toad. Allow me to explain how structure, monosyllabic word choice, vowel sounds and syntax all combine to result in PROFOUND resonance. The big bonus is that the queer elements of the work make reading Lobel not only a nostalgic delight, but an important act.