The Reader and the Writer

Welcome back to the R&W year-long read, War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy. In this episode, Rhea and Shari discuss in depth this “time between times” of the story. Using two different quotes from this month’s reading, they talk about all the story lines from this strange time of “life and death hanging in the balance,” and all the motivations that are—or are not—for the “good of the people.”

Below are the quotes the ladies used to guide their discussion, and the questions that follow for each story line’s considering:

* Quote 1: Life and death hanging in the balance:

“...no one–least of all Natasha and Prince Andrei–spoke of this: the unsettled question of life and death, which hung not only over Bolkonsky but over all Russia, shut out all other considerations.” (991)

* Quote 2: For the good of the people…??:

“Since the world began and men have killed one another no one has ever committed such a crime against his fellow-man without comforting himself with this same idea. This idea is le bien public, the hypothetical welfare of other people.” (957)

Questions to consider as we examine each story line:

* Is life or death being chosen by the characters? Either literal or spiritual.

* What is the motivating factor behind each one’s choice and in each situation?

* Are the characters being honest about their motivations? Are they lying to themselves to justify their actions? Are they truly looking out for “the good of the people”?

Links to books, people, and ideas discussed… and Rhea’s bookmarks!:

* Rhea’s Oct - Dec Bookmarks

* Sabbath, by Abraham Joshua Heschel

* Violence and the Sacred, by René Girard

* Deceit, Desire, and the Novel, by René Girard

* The Four Quartets, by T. S. Eliot (about)

Thanks for listening to this episode of The Reader & the Writer! If you liked this episode ❤️ it and share it!

The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support the literary work we’re doing, become a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome back to The Feast! Things are boiling over at Pendizack Manor Hotel, and Shari and Rhea are in for it. In this episode, they talk about the 7 evils spilling over in the host characters: the disgusting St. Merrick episode (termed by Shari as the Epstein Island escapade), soapstone insanity, envy’s constant pot-stirring, the super-righteous “symposium,” a mother ready to abandon her children to imminent doom (!), and more.

And yet, beauty abounds through the turning of other characters toward goodness, truth, and beauty. And all the while preparations for the Feast continue, and the cliff slowly crumbles overhead.

Next week, Shari and Rhea will discuss the final day, “Friday”, and wrap up their discussion of The Feast.

As mentioned in the episode, below is the list and links to many of the references to poems, songs, myths, etc. that show up over “Wednesday” and “Thursday.”

The Great Conversation happening in The Feast:

* Scapegoat | Fairies at the bottom…

* ‘There are Fairies at the Bottom of Our Garden’ - Michael Aspinall, the Surprising Soprano (Scapegoat)

* There are Fairies at the Bottom of our Garden | Odyssey Theatre Ensemble

* Bond or Free?

* What to write in a headstone epitaph? - Mississauga Cemetery

* “Wind, gentle evergreen!...”

* Epitaph on Sophocles headstone.

* Oh Shenandoah - Wikipedia (Duff, Robin, and Angie singing)

* Symposium | My Aged Uncle Arly

* Edward Lear | The Poetry Foundation

* Limericks / playful

* Mrs. Paley | The Quangle Wangle’s Hat | The Poetry Foundation

* Robin | The Dong with a Luminous Nose | The Poetry Foundation

* Gerry & Angie | Mr and Mrs Discobbolos by Edward Lear - Famous poems

* Duff | The Pobble Who Has No Toes - Edward Lear

* Nancibel | Carmen - Wikipedia (opera)

Thanks for reading The Reader & the Writer! If you like this episode ❤️ it and share it.

The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our literary work, become a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome back to The Feast! In this episode, Rhea and Shari have their own feast of a discussion, looking at all the ‘Love & Truth’ of Monday, and ‘Truth & Lies’ of Tuesday. They talk about the Cove girls’ other worldliness, the “man-of-war” love of Christina Paley, the surprise kindness of Henry Gifford, and the strange connections between Wuthering Heights and Bruce and Anna’s relationship. They talk about significant names, significant titles, significant words, phrases, and conversations.

Next week they will discuss Wednesday - Thursday.

Below is the reading schedule:

Thanks for listening to this episode The Reader & the Writer! If you like this episode ❤️ it and share it.

The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support the literary work we’re doing, become a paid or free subscriber.

Welcome to The Feast! Shari and Rhea are so excited to dive deep into Margaret Kennedy’s allegorical novel about the seven deadly sins. In this episode, they go straight to the speculation: who represents each of the sins? Who’s alive? Who died? They had a lot of fun setting up this story and are fully ready to have to renounce their deeply held beliefs on all of it.

Be sure to check out Rhea’s Reading Guide on The Feast.

Below are the links to the poetry pieces and the opera that have shown up so far in The Feast (Prologue - Sunday):

Links to quoted literature within The Feast:

* Nothing is certain but the certain spring

* Robert Laurence Binyon - “Burning of the Leaves” (written during WWII)

* Sunday | ch9 pg 89

* And whispers to the worlds of space/A sentinel…I hear at times…

* Alfred Lordy Tennyson

* Sunday | ch 8 & 9 | pg 83 & 86

* Their shoulders hold the sky suspended…

* AE Housman

* Saturday | Ch 3 | pg 16

* Why this is Hell! Nor am I out of it!

* Doctor Faustus by Christoher Marlow

* Saturday | Ch 9 | pg 45

* Il Trovatore

Here is the Reading Schedule for The Feast:

Thanks for listening to this episode of The Reader & the Writer! If you like this post, ❤️ it and share it.

The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support the literary work we’re doing, become a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to this final episode of Deacon King Kong. In this episode, Shari and Rhea discuss all the story’s thread and how they all end up “in God’s hands.” They talk about salvation stories, good and evil, who the true antagonist of the story is, and the beautiful community of Christ. Oh, and they argue about where the climax of the story is.

R&W’s next deep read is The Feast, by Margaret Kennedy. They will take four weeks to read this book. Reading segments are as follows:

* Part 1: Prologue - Sunday

* Part 2: Monday - Tuesday

* Part 3: Wednesday - Thursday

* Part 4: Friday

Thanks for listening to this episode of The Reader & the Writer! If you like this post, ❤️ it and share it.

The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support the literary work we’re doing, become a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome back to our close read of Deacon King Kong. In in this episode, Shari and Rhea discuss the women at the center of this story and how they are the “still point” for each of their respective communities. They discuss motifs they see taking a center stage in this section: the water, Statue of Liberty, the “shining” harbor in the afternoon sun; and how these images continue to pop up and provide a strong juxtaposition to all that is not “normal” about The Cause, as Sister Gee laments to Potts. They discuss several important conversations that happened: Sister Gee and Potts, Elefante and Sportcoat, Sportcoat and young (dead) Hettie, and others. Oh, and they talk about the weeds.

Next week they will discuss the final chapters of the story: Chapters 21-26.

Thanks for listening to this episode of The Reader & the Writer! If you liked this episode, show it some ❤️ and share it with someone.

The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support the literary work we’re doing, become a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome back to R&W’s 2025 year-long read, War and Peace.

We know, it’s been a minute. After two months, Rhea and Shari were so glad to get back to this story. They focused their discussion on the “movements” of characters and events, and on “form v. substance.” They spend considerable time talking about Natasha’s movement from guilt to new freedom, Pierre’s movement toward war, Old Bolkonsky movement from life to death, and his son’s movement toward eminent death as well. They discuss the “form” of war—that of a chess game—versus the “substance” of war, something more terrible and chaotic; and the form of Hélène v. the substance of Marya…. and much, much more.

Thanks for listening to this episode of The Reader & the Writer! If you liked this episode ❤️ it and share it.

The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our literary work, become a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome back to R&W’s deep read of Deacon King Kong by James McBride. In this episode, Rhea and Shari discuss all the ways the threads of the story are beginning to slowly weave together. They talk about McBride’s humor, his brilliance in bringing us into this community of The Cause House with kind hospitality, and allowing us to deal with hard realities through this hospitable way. They discuss Shari’s three-way Venn Diagram on the story’s territories from the first episode, expanding on the ideas laid out last week, and what may lie at the center of the three. Rhea notices the way “the Truth” has been popping up a lot in this section, as well as all the commonality between characters and 20 years. They spend a long time on Elefante and the Venus of Willendorf. They wonder where the story is going to go next.

Thanks for listening to this episode of The Reader & the Writer! If you liked this episode hit the ❤️ button and share it!

The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our literary work, become a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to an R&W new read! This week Rhea and Shari begin a four part discussion on Deacon King Kong by James McBride. In this episode, they introduce the wide and colorful cast of characters: Sportcoat, Hot Sausage, Deems, Jet, Bunch, Earl, and more. They wonder why some non-characters: like the community itself, the cheese, and the ants feel more like characters and less like places or things. They talk for some time about the “voicey-ness” of the story, particularly with regards to the narrator. They also talk about how the story is being told almost like an old-fashioned “yarn.”

If you haven’t yet, check out Rhea’s Reading Guide for Deacon King Kong:

Reading Schedule (Note date Change for Episode 2)

Below is the Reading Schedule for Deacon King Kong, with the exception of Episode 2:

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the upcoming Labor Day holiday and family/work obligations, Episode 2 will air Wednesday, September 3rd, rather than the 2nd.

Thanks for listening to this episode of The Reader & the Writer! If you like this post, ❤️ it and share it!

The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support the literary work we’re doing, become a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome back to R&W’s three-part series on George MacDonald’s fantasy novel, Phantastes. In this episode Shari and Rhea discuss the ending of the book, the things they loved, and the things they didn’t. They discuss whether or not the continual semi-confusing dreamlike quality of the story was intentional on MacDonald’s part, or a storytelling hiccup. They talk about the motifs, the symbols, and the ultimate theme of love running through. And they talk about how reading Phantastes has rekindled their love for Narnia and deep desire to read the series again.

R&W’s next deep read is Deacon King Kong, by James McBride. Below is the reading schedule:

Thanks for listening to this episode of The Reader & the Writer! If you liked this episode show it some ❤️ and share it with a friend (or stranger, or enemy. We’re not picky).

The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support the literary work we’re doing, become a free or paid subscriber.