The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Q&A Episode
As we come to the end of our series on Mark Twain’s classic novel, it’s time to answer your listener questions. Hopefully we did them justic...
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Close Reads Podcast
Close Reads is a book-club podcast for the incurable reader. Featuring David Kern, Tim McIntosh and Heidi White, alongside a couple of other occasional guests, we read Great Books and talk a...
Episodes
20 of 523 episodes
The Great Winnowing of 2026 (for 2027)
Join in for annual tradition as we winnow down a long list of nominees and choose what books to discuss on the show in 2027! This is a publi...
The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn: To the End
We’ve come to the end of Mark Twain’s classic novel so this week we dig into the final chapters: * The significance of Tom Sawyer’s return *...
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Chapters 24-31
Hello and welcome back to our series on Mark Twain’s classic novel! This week we discuss: * Huck’s crisis * The conscience vs the heart * Tw...
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Chapters 17-23
Welcome back to our ongoing conversation about Mark Twain’s classic novel. This week we discuss faux Dukes and Dauphins, satire and allegory...
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Chapters 9-16
Welcome back to our series on Mark Twain’s most essential novel. This week we discuss: * The development of Huck Finn’s conscience * Jim’s c...
Remembering Wendell Berry With Those Who Know Him
In this second tribute episode to Wendell Berry, Martin Cothran and Alan Cornett join the show to share what it was like to know Berry the m...
Remembering Wendell Berry (Part 1)
One of our literary heroes, the great Wendell Berry, died this week at the age of 92 and we’re here to pay tribute. In this episode, we cons...
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Chapters 1-8
Welcome to our new series on Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn ! This we’re discussing its literary significance, controversia...
Our Man in Havana: Q&A
Welcome to the conclusion of our conversation on Graham Greene’s novel. This week we’re answering your questions and topics include: * The d...
A Very Special Follow-up Episode on “Beloved” with Dr. Angel Adams Parham
Close Readers, I’m thrilled to present this very special episode on Beloved with Dr. Angel Adams Parham, a professor at the University of Vi...
Our Man in Havana: To the End
As we get to the end of Graham Greene’s novel it’s time to discuss such things as whether the book has a happy ending, who the villain of th...
Our Man in Havana: Parts 3-4
Welcome back to our series on Graham Green’s “Our Man in Havana!” This week we’re discussing Wormold and Beatrice’s relationship, the symbol...
Our Man in Havana: Parts 1 + 2
It’s time for a new series, this time on one of Sean’s very favorite authors, Graham Greene! So join in as we dig into the origins of this “...
The Pros and Cons of Christopher Nolan's Adaptation of "The Odyssey"
What makes The Odyssey difficult to adapt? Which parts of Homer’s story are most essential to include? In what ways does Christopher Nolan’s...
Beloved: Q&A
As we come to the end of our reading of Beloved we dig into some listener questions. We talked about a variety of topics, including the book...
Beloved: 159-235
This week we’re digging into the complicated way that Toni Morrison presents Sethe’s tragic choice here in the middle of the book and especi...
Beloved: 76-158
Welcome back to our series on Toni Morrison’s novel. In this episode we focus on Morrison’s engrossing prose, including the way she uses thr...
Beloved: Pages 1-75
Welcome to our new series on Toni Morrison’s modern classic! In this first episode, we dig into the book’s complicated narrative structure,...
The Feast: Q&A
Welcome to the conclusion of our series on Margaret Kennedy’s novel as we dig into a bunch of listener questions! Thanks for tuning in to th...