Discussion Notes: The Swimmer
Find this week’s story here: The Swimmer by John Cheever.
Next week’s story: The 100th Episode! We’re revisiting The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin.
Rated: Clean

Maya couldn’t join us this week, but never fear, Gerald, Rammy, and Anais tackle John Cheever’s classic short story The Swimmer. While Gerald and Anais enjoyed the broad commentary on suburban and married life, Rammy hoped for more specifics on The Swimmer missteps to better understand the downturn in his fortunes. When it comes to prose, our hosts remark on Cheever’s skill in maintain a mystery without frustrating the reader and touching on dark themes while keeping the tone light.
Next week we celebrate out 100th episode! We’re going to re-examine the first short story we’ve ever discussed on the show!
Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below!
Also, don’t forget to rate the story! For the history of our goofy system, see Anais’ post “Read Short Stories or Ray Bradbury Cries.” On a scale of 1-6 Bradberries, how do you rate this story? Tell us in the comments below or via voicemail.
Lastly, your reviews on iTunes help us grow. Please search Literary Roadhouse in iTunes and leave reviews for all of our shows.

The Swimmer - John Cheever - Literary Roadhouse Ep 99

We are a diverse group of readers who have a rowdy old time discussing a wide diversity of short literary fiction.

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					Discussion Notes: No One Here is Going to Save You
This week’s story: No One Here is Going to Save You by Julian Zabalbeascoa 
Next week’s story: Huevos Estrellados by Vanessa Bernice De La Cruz 
Rated: Clean
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “No One Here is Going to Save You” by Julian Zabalbeascoa,  a story of a soldier during the Spanish civil war who is tasked with executing communists and a priest. Gerald and Andy disappointed with the story, but Anais enjoyed it. At the heart of the debate is how to write about fascism in a world saturated with the subject.

Have thoughts on this story?

Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
 
					
						
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
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					We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.					
						
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
					
			
						
						
							
						Support us on Patreon
		
					
		
				
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
								
					
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No One Here is Going to Save You


						
							
							
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
								
					Discussion Notes: The Theresa Job
This week’s story: The Theresa Job by Colson Whitehead 
Next week’s story: No One Here Is Going To Save You by Julian Zabalbeascoa 
Rated: Clean Themes, Explicit Language (Host drops an ‘f’ bomb 

The Theresa Job


						
							
							
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
								
					Discussion Notes: The City Born GreatThis week’s story: The City Born Great by N. K. Jemisin Next week’s story: The Theresa Job by Colson Whitehead Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The City Born Great” by N. K. Jemisin, an urban fantasy about a young New Yorker called upon to midwife the birth of a great city and fend off the eldritch hospitals that would feed on the newborn. All three hosts enjoyed the story — even Andy who might have preferred if the city were Chicago. Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.					
						
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
			Support us on Patreon		
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
								
					We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.					
						
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
					
			
						
						
							
						Support us on Patreon
		
					
		
				
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
								
					
Looking for more to read?
Click here for a full list of all short stories discussed on the podcast.					
						
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
						
						
					

Ep 217: The City Born Great


						
							
							
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
								
					Discussion Notes: The Specialist’s HatThis week’s story: The Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link Next week’s story: The City Born Great by N. K. Jemisin Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Specialist’s Hat” by Kelly Link, a story about twin girls who move into the gothic home of a former poet who dabbled in the dark arts and killed his wife. Despite a lot of debate on this podcast, our hosts ended up giving this spooky, clever story similar ratings.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.					
						
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
			Support us on Patreon		
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
								
					We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.					
						
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
					
			
						
						
							
						Support us on Patreon
		
					
		
				
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
								
					
Looking for more to read?
Click here for a full list of all short stories discussed on the podcast.					
						
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
						
						
					

The Specialist's Hat


						
							
							
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
								
					Discussion Notes: FosterThis week’s story: Foster by Bryan Washington Next week’s story: The Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link Rated: EXPLICITGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Foster” by Bryan Washington, a story of a man estranged from his brother, struggling with his boyfriend, and refusing to name a cat. The story is explicit and so is this episode. The explicit nature of the story was a bit of a turn off for Gerald, but all three hosts enjoyed digging deep into this iceberg of a story. Scratch beneath the story, and there’s a lot to chew on.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.					
						
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
			Support us on Patreon		
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
								
					We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.					
						
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
					
			
						
						
							
						Support us on Patreon
		
					
		
				
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
				
						
							
					
			
							
						
				
								
					
Looking for more to read?
Click here for a full list of all short stories discussed on the podcast.					
						
				
						
					
		
								
					
		
						
						
					

The Swimmer - John Cheever - Literary Roadhouse Ep 99

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