The Reader and the Writer

This is our last episode on Demon Copperhead. Rhea and Shari talk about all that this story invited them--indeed, forced--them to consider in life: the difference between pity and compassion; how economic stability, or lack thereof, is directly connected to the dignity of the individual and a community; the evocation of Demon's character through his voice; the difference between focusing on problems v. solutions; and our God-given and ordained selves that are are made to love, and out of that love make new things.

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In this episode of The Reader & the Writer, Rhea and Shari finish their close reading of Demon Copperhead. These are hard times for Demon, and they were difficult to read. Rhea and Shari will compare characters, discuss what causes the "wanting disease," and talk about that long dénouement and why it felt unusual to us both.

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Welcome back to The Reader & the Writer. On this episode, Rhea and Shari continue their close reading of Demon Copperhead. We call these Demon's "foster care - golden years", though not to be confused as being the same. Quite the opposite. We'll be discussing dignity, motives, and flying kites as offerings of thanksgiving.

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Welcome to the Reader & the Writer! This is a new literary focus to the old Beauty & Arts podcast. On R&W, Rhea Forney and Shari Dragovich discuss excellent works of literature--both old and new--through close reading; and then examine how these works give witness to the Great Story, the one that finds as its opening, "In the beginning...." If you listened to their discussions of the the Narnia series on the B&A’s podcast, then you are well-acquainted with the style and format of The Reader & the Writer.

In this first episode, Rhea & Shari re-introduce themselves and dive right into discussing their first book, ⁠Demon Copperhead⁠, by ⁠Barbara Kingslover.⁠ They discuss chapters 1-19, Demon's early childhood years, as Shari calls them, "the Mom years."

In this episode, Shari continues looking at Paul's letter to the Ephesians through the lens of a literary art form, looking specifically at Paul's emphasis of the restorative work of Christ in the life of his Gentile readers. She especially focuses on the repetition of language Paul uses, his continual weaving through of the Trinitarian reality, and ways he gives small tastes of big ideas (like "oneness" and "power") that he will more fully flesh out in the second half of his letter.

Primary resource for this series: The ESV Literary Study Bible, published by Crossway. https://www.crossway.org/bibles/esv-literary-study-bible-hcj/

In this third episode of Ephesians as a letter writing art form, Shari looks at Paul's use of long sentences and exulting language to move his readers inward and upward into Trinitarian love and life.

Intro and Exit music: "The Story of One Life," by Silence in the Streets

In this episode, Shari offers reasons for why a literary reading of any book in the Bible ought be given a first priority, and addresses common fallacies associated with reading the Bible as literature. Then she gets into an overview of the letter to the Ephesians. She gives historic context to the letter, offers a picture of who the believers of Ephesus were, what Paul may have been motivated by near the end of his life, and how that shaped his letter.

Finally, she offers a list of Paul's literary intentions for writing Ephesians, and explained how this is different than the literary tools he uses for making his intentions come to bear.

The episode gets a little weedy toward the end. Hopefully as we get into the letter, some of the ideas discussed here will come more clear and alive.

Resource: The Literary Study Bible, ESV, copyright 2007, 2019 by Crossway

Music: Story of One Life, by Silence in the Streets

With this episode, Shari kicks off a new series: The Art of Letter Writing--a study of Ephesians through its literary style. Shari will give an intro to the the series, and answers the question, "Is letter writing an art form?" She also offers some tips for how to read Ephesians through a literary lens.

Intro and exit music: The Story of One Life, by Silence in the Streets

In this final episode of The Silver Chair series, Shari and Rhea discuss what it means to reorient one's idea of success (more than life or death), the trap of enchantment, and living like a Christian even if it weren't true.

For the Q&A episode, send your comment or questions to:

[email protected]

Other books referenced in this series (episodes 15-17):

• The Truth and the Beauty, by Andrew Klavan


• Plato's Republic


• Luther's Small Catechism


• Planet Narnia, by Michael Ward

In this episode, Shari and Rhea continue their close reading of The Silver Chair. They discuss the problem with distractions, how similar the Underworld is to purgatory, and the struggle of trying to discern the truth in a world full of deceptions.