Close Reads Podcast

Epizode

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  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Chapters 17-23 16.09.2026 1h 6min

  Welcome back to our ongoing conversation about Mark Twain’s classic novel. This week we discuss faux Dukes and Dauphins, satire and allegory, local conflicts and civil wars, and much more, including the protean nature of the book. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Chapters 9-16 09.09.2026 1h 4min

  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 character development* The river as a symbol of journey and uncertainty* The expurgated passage* Twain’s homage to the Odyssey* Jim’s humanization and moral integrity* Twain’s technique of withholding information* The significance of the Mississippi River as a unifying setting* and moreHappy reading! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  Remembering Wendell Berry With Those Who Know Him 04.09.2026 1h 19min

  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 man, not just the great literary figure. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  Remembering Wendell Berry (Part 1) 03.09.2026 42min

  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 consider his influence on literature, agriculture, and culture, plus share some personal stories, favorite passages, and insights into what makes Berry a timeless writer and thinker. Thanks for tuning in. We’d love to hear what Berry meant to you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Chapters 1-8 02.09.2026 53min

  Welcome to our new series on Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn! This we’re discussing its literary significance, controversial language, and the themes of race, trauma, and storytelling.Key Topics* The significance of the Mississippi River in American culture and literature* The role of race and language* The challenges of teaching and interpreting Huck Finn in modern education* Twain’s use of dialect and vernacular language as literary devices* The debate over expurgated editions and the importance of confronting uncomfortable truths* The influence of Shakespeare and other literary traditions on Twain’s work* The opening narrative and its role in framing the story This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  Our Man in Havana: Q&A 24.08.2026 1h 13min

  Welcome to the conclusion of our conversation on Graham Greene’s novel. This week we’re answering your questions and topics include: * The difference between a Catholic novel and a novel with Catholic characters* Green’s personal faith and its influence on his writing* The book’s depiction of religion and piety* The conflict between the Catholic moral vision and modernity* Humor, satire, and irony in Green’s narrative techniques* The significance of Millie’s character and her faith* The role of realism in literature and its effects on reader sympathy* Green’s background as a journalist and diplomat influencing his fiction* The concept of truth versus fiction in espionage and storytelling* The importance of particular love and community over abstract idealsThanks so much for listening. Happy listening! Don’t forget to check our CiRCE’s upcoming event: A World without Heroes. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  A Very Special Follow-up Episode on “Beloved” with Dr. Angel Adams Parham 18.08.2026 49min

  Close Readers, I’m thrilled to present this very special episode on Beloved with Dr. Angel Adams Parham, a professor at the University of Virginia and the co-author of The Black Intellectual Tradition: Reading Freedom in Classical Literature. We chatted about the literary tradition at the heart of the book, Morrison’s aesthetic choices, the concept of re-memory and its significance in the story, its moral vision and the implications therein, teaching strategies for complex texts like this, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  Our Man in Havana: To the End 17.08.2026 1h 4min

  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 the book is, the spiritual underpinnings in the story (and Milly’s role therein), the madness Beatrice refers to in the final passage, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  Our Man in Havana: Parts 3-4 11.08.2026 1h 4min

  Welcome back to our series on Graham Green’s “Our Man in Havana!” This week we’re discussing Wormold and Beatrice’s relationship, the symbolism of masks and shadows, Greene’s commentary on bureaucracy and truth, the role of marriage and domestic life, and much more. As always, happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  Our Man in Havana: Parts 1 + 2 03.08.2026 55min

  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 “elevated entertainment,” the way the book explores the plight of modern man, the important role of the protagonist’s daughter, the book’s treatment of espionage, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  The Pros and Cons of Christopher Nolan's Adaptation of "The Odyssey" 30.07.2026 1h 6min

  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 adaptation work (and not work)? Writer, teacher, and film-lover Joshua Gibbs joins the show to discuss in this special episode. What did you think of the film? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  Beloved: Q&A 26.07.2026 1h 11min

  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’s ending and some characters we haven’t covered in depth yet. And coming up in a few weeks we’ll have a very special guest on to discuss the book’s legacy. Thanks for joining us for this series! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  Beloved: 159-235 15.07.2026 57min

  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 especially the psychological implications and ramifications—both character-wise and aesthetically. Plus: Paul D’s response and Beloved’s haunting. There's a lot to dig into here so join the conversation! Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  Beloved: 76-158 09.07.2026 1h 1min

  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 threaded metaphors and symbols, and how it enhances the pathos of the story. Plus, the trauma narrative and whether or not the novel is experimental. As always, happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  Beloved: Pages 1-75 01.07.2026 1h 21min

  Welcome to our new series on Toni Morrison’s modern classic! In this first episode, we dig into the book’s complicated narrative structure, Morrison’s use of POV, the feminine nature of the story and writing, whether it’s a novel of advocacy, and much more! Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  The Feast: Q&A 29.06.2026 1h 17min

  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 these conversations and thanks to everyone who posted a question. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  The Feast: To the End 17.06.2026 1h 14min

  Welcome to the conclusion of our series on Margaret Kennedy’s novel! This week we discuss justice and mercy, the meek inheriting the earth, the various ways the end ties into the beginning, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  The Feast: Thursday 08.06.2026 1h 1min

  Welcome back to our series on Margaret Kennedy’s The Feast! We begin by answering a couple of listener questions, before discussing the fascinating “symposium” at the heart of this section (“what is wrong with this country!?”), Nancibel’s lovely conversation with her mother, and the Cove girls’ tragic conflict with their mother. Happy listening! If you enjoy Close Reads please consider subscribing to Close Reads HQ. Your support keeps the showing going. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  The Feast: Wednesday 02.06.2026 1h 11min

  Welcome back to our series on Margart Kennedy’s novel. This week we’re discussing Bruce’s confession, Hebe’s adventure (and insight into people), Siddal’s perceptions despite his sloth, patience and the spiritual life, patience vs wrath, and much more. Happy listening! If you enjoy Close Reads please consider subscribing to Close Reads HQ. Your support keeps the showing going. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
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  The Feast: Tuesday 27.05.2026 1h 9min

  Welcome back to another conversation about Margaret Kennedy’s The Feast. This week we begin by discussing some audience comments, then we discuss a number of topics, including poor Bruce and his bad decisions, Mrs Gifford vs Mrs Cove, and the difference between subtly and cleverness in literature (and whether either are artistic virtues), and more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe