The Reader and the Writer

Welcome back to R&W’s deep read of Phantastes by George MacDonald. In this episode, Shari and Rhea spend considerable time discussing the many symbols they are recognizing in the story, and wonder about what deeper reality these symbols might be pointing us toward. They discuss how much they loved Chapter 13—the story within the story. And Rhea asks Shari what she thinks about MacDonald’s claim that a good story will mean many things and will change depending on the particular reader, and this is a good thing.

Next week, Shari and Rhea will discuss through to the end of the story. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out and make use of the many resources Rhea provides in her reading guide to Phantastes.

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Welcome to a new deep read on The Reader & the Writer! This week Rhea and Shari kick off a three-week dive into George MacDonald’s fantasy novel, Phantastes. In this episode, they discuss George MacDonald’s background, his ideas about the imagination, and the intertwining nature of truth and beauty. They talk about the main character, Anodos, the episodic feel to the story so far, and the ways they already notice the strong use of symbols in the narrative.

If you haven’t read Rhea’s introduction and reading guide for Phantastes, you must go check it out! You can read it here:

Below is the reading schedule:

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Welcome to this special edition of The Reader & the Writer. In this episode, Shari interviews author, Cynthia Beach. Cynthia is the author of the novel, Surface of Water, published with IVP Press in 2024, She’s also written and published a wonderfully inspiring as well as practical craft book, Creative Juices for Writers. She has an MA in journalism from Wheaton College and an MFA in fiction writing from the Northwest Institute of the Literary Arts. She is also a trained spiritual director. Cynthia directs faith-based writing workshop, Scriptoria with Gary D. Schmidt. She lives near Grand Rapids, Michigan on a quiet seven acres with her husband, Dave.

Links to Cynthia’s website and Scriptoria:

* cynthiabeach.com

* scriptoriaworkshop.org

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Welcome back! In this episode, Shari and Rhea conclude their discussion of Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson. They get deep into ideas of transfiguration, baptism, endings that don’t do what they want, and where the beauty is despite the great sadnesses. There is much to lament, much to rejoice over, much to wonder at in these final chapters. It also makes the following quote from Robinson’s interview with Trinity Forum all the more poignant (you can find that interview on Rhea’s post on Housekeeping):

There is a way in which a good writer can see into strange places and see beauty in places others can’t. —Marilynne Robinson

If you’re journaling along with us, here is this week’s prompt:

Journal from on high, outside yourself. Assume an imaginary position from a place above you. For example: the top of a nearby tree, as a bird flying overhead, a rooftop, mountaintop, etc. Further this prompt by writing from the p.o.v. of anything in your surroundings (an object on your desk, your pet, your mailbox, etc.). Again, focus on your five senses—especially to begin.

R&W’s next deep read is Phantastes, by George MacDonald. Below is a reading schedule:

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Welcome back to R&W’s deep read of Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson. In this episode, Shari and Rhea discuss the feeling of darkness and mystery surrounding much of this section of the novel. They discuss Sylvie’s strangeness, Ruthie’s eccentric imagination, and Lucille being fed up with all of it. They talk about the role of dreams, the continued motif of water, and the strangeness of death that seems to haunt this family no matter how they try to live.

Next week they will finish the novel. In case you’ve missed it, below is the reading schedule, as well as a link to Rhea’s post introducing Housekeeping.

If you’re journaling on place with us, this week’s prompt is:

Journal about what’s beneath your feet. Choose a familiar location. First, journal on what you can see. Then, journal on what you can’t see, as you “drill” down beneath the surface of where you are. Use your five senses and your above ground surroundings to help you discern what might be below. You’ll have to use your sense of imagination for this one.

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Welcome back to our year long read of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. In this episode, Rhea and Shari break down the whole tragic event of Natasha’s inevitable break up with Andrei. They wonder how many more times Dolokhov will keep appearing where there’s trouble-making. They worry over Andrei’s heart and wonder over Marya’s words to him about forgiveness. They are finally satisfied with Tolstoy spending all those chapters last month on Nikolai and the hunt. They hope—multiple times—that Anatole and Hélène get what’s coming to them. Finally, they discuss the ways all things are positioning themselves to come to a head in Moscow with the War of 1812.

If you’re looking for the next set of bookmarks, as well as where in the world the bookmarks are, read Rhea’s latest W&P post:

A programming note: Due to scheduling and travel conflicts, our next War and Peace episode on July’s reading will drop later in August (not the first Friday as usual.)

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It’s time for a new book! Welcome to Housekeeping by Mariynne Robinson. In this episode, Shari and Rhea introduce listeners to the author, and this strange new place they find themselves now, Fingerbone, Montana, a vastly different world from early 1700’s England, for sure! They then dive into the narrative, talk about the eccentricities of the characters, the aliveness of the setting, and the possibility of motherhood as a place. They marvel over Robinson’s sparkling, image-rich prose, and notice immediately the profundity of water imagery throughout. Clearly, water will play an important role in unfolding Housekeeping’s deeper themes. But how?

Rhea wrote an excellent post introducing Housekeeping and its author. It contains the reading schedule, a set of bookmarks for each section, excellent links to interviews with Marilynne Robinson, War & Peace connections, and a new opportunity we’re inviting you to join: a practice of journaling on place. Stay tuned. More to come on that in an upcoming essay post by Shari (on the Reader & Writer Substack).

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Welcome to the last episode of Moll Flanders! In this episode Shari and Rhea dive deep into Moll’s moment of repentance and her life as a penitent afterwards. Do we believe her? Does she become a reliable narrator in the end? What is the difference between repentance and penitence anyway?? They also go back to the question they asked themselves early on: why does this novel feel so contemporary and necessary for our 21st century time?

All this and much more.

As mentioned at the beginning of the episode, R&W’s next slow read will be Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson. Listen to the episode, or read this post for specifics about this change to the 2025 R&W reading lineup.

Below is the reading schedule for Housekeeping. Pick up a copy and start reading!

Thanks for listening to this edition of The Reader & the Writer! If you liked it, ❤️ 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, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to R&W’s on-going read of Moll Flanders. In this episode, Rhea and Shari talk about Moll’s brazenness with her thievery, the hollowing out of her soul, the events leading up to her capture, and how Defoe manages to truly make Moll “nameless” by the time she reaches the end—that is, the end of her “Course of Life for forty Years,” a “horrid Complication of Wickedness, Whoredom, Adultery, Incest, Lying, Theft, and in a Word, every thing but Murther and Treason.” (p. 355 of novel)

Next week they will finish the novel. It promises to be an excellent conversation!

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Welcome back to Moll Flanders, the novel that reads like a slow motion train wreck. In this episode, Rhea and Shari discuss Moll’s continued decent and desecration of her soul. They discuss Moll as an addict; this insatiable need she has now developed to thieve after years of morally depraved choices. They wonder at Moll’s string of failed marriages and ask at what point these failures are because of her extreme lack of discernment rather than simply “bad luck.” They circle back to what they think Defoe is doing by telling this story. That is, what is the “aboutness” of this story really?? Is it about revealing and condemning the injustices woven through England’s social class system at that time? Is it about the injustices society foisted upon women? Or, is Defoe really trying to answer the question: Can there be redemption for people like Moll Flanders? If so, where does it come from? How?

What are your thoughts on all these things? Leave a comment below! We’d love to hear from you.

We have two episodes left for Moll Flanders:

* June 17th, pages 297-363

* June 24th, pages 364-427

One important note: R&W has made an adjustment to the second half of the 2025 reading schedule. Please stay tuned for an official announcement on that, coming soon!

Thanks for listening to The Reader & the Writer! If you liked this post, hit the ❤️ button and share it. You can support the literary work we’re doing here by becoming a free or paid subscriber.