When Books Were Fun

In which we discuss Pride and Prejudice (1813) by Jane Austen and The King of Elfland’s Daughter (1924) by Lord Dunsany, and consider the psychological and social insights of Austen’s beloved classic as compared to a fairy tale of love between moral and immortal, beyond the fields we know. [email protected] Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

In which we discuss The Age of Innocence (1920) by Edith Wharton and City of Illusions (1967) by Ursula LeGuin, and consider how a novel of high society New Yorkers and moral problems related to love and marriage parallels a novel of a not quite human man navigating problems on an alien dominated future Earth. [email protected] Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

In which we discuss Twelve Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northrup and This Hallowed Ground (1956) by Bruce Catton, non-fiction accounts of slavery and the civil war it engendered, and consider their ongoing relevance in the 21st century. [email protected] Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

In which we discuss Barchester Towers (1857) by Anthony Trollope and consider how a comedy regarding situations unfamiliar to modern readers (in this case, 19th century Anglican Church politics) can nonetheless be funny and fun to read for its handling of timeless aspects of human nature and social interactions. Relevant to anyone ever affected by office politics. [email protected] Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

In which we discuss Nicholas Nickleby (1838-39) by Charles Dickens and Just William (1922) by Richmal Crompton and consider the comedy of suffering dire circumstances and dire characters versus normal 11 year-old suffering. [email protected] Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

In which we discuss The Coral Island (1857) by R M. Ballantyne and The Lord of the Flies (1954) by William Golding and consider the differing worldviews of authors and critics regarding boys shipwrecked on tropical islands. [email protected] Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

In which we discuss Of Mice and Men (1937) by John Steinbeck and take a return visit to Penrod by Booth Tarkington (1914) and consider how changing social mores affect the reading of realistic novels from the past. [email protected] Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

In which we discuss And Then There Were None (aka Ten Little Indians) (1939) by Agatha Christie and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963) by John le Carre and consider another Christie mystery as well as the roles of mystery and betrayal in spy novels. [email protected] Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

In which we discuss A Night to Remember (1955) by Walter Lord, a non-fiction account of the Titanic disaster, and The Cruel Sea (1951) by Nicholas Monsarrat, a novel by about British convoys in the North Atlantic during World War II, and reflect on icebergs, U-boats, and hypothermia.  [email protected] Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

In which we discuss Farewell My Lovely (1940) by Raymond Chandler and The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1916) by Agatha Chrisie and contrast the sub-genres of gritty urban mystery and genteel English country house mystery. [email protected] Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.