Western Thought

Western Thought

By Jonah AndristArtsBooks
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Western Thought episodes

  • Episode 46: The Murder of Isaac Babel
    This month we become more of a history podcast. Discussing the Bolshevik revolution, money, power. What it might mean to try and be a revolutionary. Babel's phrase about the artistic strictures instituted on writers in Stalinism; "My friends, we are not allowed to write badly anymore." There's no such strictures on podcasts - as we have happily explored. Also, Babel's murder was sad, and as is our want, we think it would be a good play. Come sit in the bookstore for a while.
    1 hr
  • Episode 45: A Metalhead: Trailer for a Novel
    This is an audio introduction to a novel you can access over at the Western Thought patreon. patreon.com/westernthought. On the patreon page I will also include an unlocked version of the text (the first chapter) if you'd like to peruse that before making a leap into patronage. 
    21 min
  • Episode 44: Virginia Woolf

    The initial idea for this episode was to do a centennial retrospective of the year 1922. The writers TS Eliot, EM Forster, and last but not least, Woolf. Woolf, I think for both of us, ended up being the most fascinating. Partially because a week before, in the Walrus and Carpenter (Will's bookstore) Jonah found a copy of Beginning Again. One part of five of Leonard Woolf's autobiography. A fascinating remnant of literary history which is used to create, in our opinion, literary speculation of which you're hardly going to find the kind in any other podcast (for better and worse). An interesting discussion about stream of conscious - as stream of conscious. Come sit in the bookstore for a while.

    1 hr 7 min
  • Episode 43: Meditations on the Tarot
    Not necessarily literature but a larger discussion about the nature of the universe. Whether it's open or closed. These Meditations are from a book by a anonymous author and are basic discussions for the understanding of Christian Hermeticism. Just pop your head into the bookstore and see if anything peaks your interest. We had fun. Western Thought on Patreon for backlisted episodes.
    43 min
  • Episode 42: The Town of Books - Part 1
    Written as something of a playful experiment with a simple idea - a rich and famous children's book author (a JK Rowling type figure) comes to a stagnant town (like Pocatello, ID) and figures she could buy a lot of the downtown storefronts. She decides to open up a series of bookstores. Hijinks occur. An accidental death, a theft of a first edition of Melville's Moby Dick. The second two parts of this novella can be found on the Patreon. patreon.com/westernthought
    2 hr 13 min
  • Episode 41: Was Herman Melville homosexual?

    Will stumbled upon a book (Homosexuals in History) with a reference to Hawthorne being potentially homosexual. We try and dig into the confluence of art and sex. So far, for this year, I think this may be our best podcast. Maybe because it's now chilly enough in Idaho that Will has the fireplace running at the front of his store again. Come sit near for a bit. As always, old episodes available at patreon.com/westernthought.

    1 hr
  • Episode 40: Rice and Nathaniel Hawthorne
    Seriously considered editing this for more focus on Nathaniel, but maybe we'll get around to that next week. In this episode Will's new squeeze, Sonai, stops by to drink a beer in front of the fireplace and chat. Isn't that one of the appeals for podcasts - containing a weird, possibly interesting moment of time? Anyway, don't be planning to use this as reference material for your next book report. Come hang out in the bookstore for a bit.
    56 min
  • Episode 39: Gertrude Stein

    A fairly busy Tuesday at the bookstore with a few sales and auditory distractions from a new roof being applied. Still, there's a few good one-liners and a (possibly) good introduction to Stein and her cubist doodlings with words (my words). Shorter episodes these days as Will now has a standing dinner date. Perhaps we will compensate by doing them more frequently. As always, old episodes are now stored for you perusal at patreon.com/westernthought. Come sit in the bookstore for a while.

    39 min
  • Episode 38: Creative Writing MFAs and Durrell's JUSTINE
    Back from a hiatus we try to discuss a novel that Will hasn't read in twenty years. But luckily, with art as our master, we finally tackle the liberal art MFAs and why they don't seem to produce the random passion which makes reading so compelling. Putting our personalities out there you'll have to be the judge if you can pan out the fluff to find the treasures (this will make more sense if you listen). Come sit in the bookstore for a while.
    44 min
  • Episode 37: Two Stories

    Another fictional supplement to the podcast. Two independent stories which have been recorded for your listening interest (written far apart with very different styles). 
    The first story is a touch of exaggerated reality - with an artist who makes exceptional pictures in the foam of coffee. The second story is a Henry Miller inspired first person wander through a mysterious death and a "postmodern" deconstruction of the mystery genre. The second story begins 24 minutes in.

    1 hr 10 min

About Western Thought

From the publisher's feed

A couple of years ago Jonah Andrist convinced Will Peterson, of the Walrus and Carpenter bookstore in Pocatello ID, to go halfsies on a recorder. Every month or so we've sat down in front of this recorder for a chat, with some beer, to talk about writing and great writers and the philosophy of doing as such. Will has an incredible amount of developed training as a talker - being a personal knowledge hub who people look to for suggestion and guidance, a great bookstore owner - and as a writer himself knows the pains and pleasures of trying to do something great. Jonah felt doomed to becoming a writer, come hell or high water (of which there's been plenty) and with less life experience than Will has yet tried to read as widely as possible to truly understand the magic of the craft.

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