Literary Roadhouse: A Literary Podcast Community.

Every week we have a rowdy old time discussing diverse literary fiction

Literary Roadhouse

Literary Roadhouse

A Literary Podcast Community

The Diamond as Big as the Ritz | F. Scott Fitzgerald | Literary Roadhouse Ep 134

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Discussion Notes: The Diamond as Big as the Ritz

Find this week’s story here:  The Diamond as Big as the Ritz by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Next week’s story:  Passage by Kevin Jared Hosein

Rated: Clean

And then there were two… Rammy’s got married recently and was on his honeymoon during the recording of this episode. Hooray, Rammy! Maya’s been dealing with some computer trouble. And so Gerald and Anais bravely soldier on, tackling a 15k+ word story on their own. Thankfully they both loved the colorful, decadent, and twisted plot of “The Diamond as Big as the Ritz” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. They analyze the prose, characters, and themes, and reflect on how the use of absurdity played right into Fitzgerald’s greater commentary on wealth.

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Psst: Full list of short stories discussed on the podcast >>

The Dinner Party | Joshua Ferris | Literary Roadhouse Ep 133

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Discussion Notes: The Dinner Party

Find this week’s story here:  The Dinner Party by Joshua Ferris

Next week’s story:  The Diamond as Big as the Ritz by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Rated: Clean

Rammy, Gerald and Anais rave about  “The Dinner Party” by Joshua Ferris,which was suggested by former guest Colette Sartor. The three hosts discuss the story’s sharply drawn characters, clever and entertaining dialogue, and plot twist. Rammy and Anais debate the line between a vividly drawn character and melodrama, and Gerald surprises himself by enjoying a story with an ambiguous ending.

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Psst: Full list of short stories discussed on the podcast >>

Stone Mattress | Margaret Atwood | Literary Roadhouse Ep 132

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Discussion Notes: Stone Mattress

Find this week’s story here: Stone Mattress by Margaret Atwood

Next week’s story:  The Dinner Party by Joshua Ferris

Rated: Clean

This week all four Literary Roadhouse hosts gushed about this superbly sharp and entertaining short story by Margaret Atwood. “Stone Mattress” inspired an in-depth discussion of excellent prose, characterizations and symbolism. The conversation turns contentious as the hosts debate the moral character of the protagonist’s former husbands.

Come for the discussion, stay for a blooper reel at the very end.

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Psst: Full list of short stories discussed on the podcast >>

Christmas Party | Russell Banks | Literary Roadhouse Ep 131

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Discussion Notes: Christmas Party

Find this week’s story here: Christmas Party by Russell Banks

Next week’s story: Stone Mattress by Margaret Atwood

Rated: Clean

Baylee Annis, Assistant to the Director at the Adirondack Center for Writing

Baylee Annis, Assistant to the Director at the Adirondack Center for Writing

This week Gerald, Rammy, and Anais are joined by Baylee Annis, Assistant to the Director of the Adirondack Center for Writing.  She is poet, essayist, journalist, and loves talking about words so much she made it her job to pass on her passion to others. She studied at Norwich University in Vermont and was one of a whopping two students who studied english, education, and sociology. An Adirondack native, she hasn’t had electricity or running water for three years in her adorable 128 sq ft house, and would have it no other way.

You can learn more about the Adirondack Center for Writing at adirondackcenterforwriting.org

The show quickly became a love fest! All four hosts gushed over the brilliant characters, prose, and plot of this classic Russell Banks short story. Baylee brought her Adirondack native experience to the conversation, commenting on how the community was one more character in the story. Meanwhile, Rammy and Anais debate why the protagonist briefly contemplated kidnapping a baby.

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Psst: Full list of short stories discussed on the podcast >>

Landfill | Joyce Carol Oates | Literary Roadhouse Ep 130

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Discussion Notes: Landfill

Find this week’s story here: Landfill by Joyce Carol Oates

Next week’s story: Christmas Party by Russell Banks

Rated: Clean Language, Sensitive Topic

Gerald, Maya and Anais discuss Landfill by Joyce Carol Oates. They struggle to discuss a story that too closely resembles a real life tragedy while painting an insensitive picture of the victim. For this reason, the story quickly became controversial after publication in 2006, and has raised ethical questions from literary critics.

Among those critical voices is Amardeep Singh’s, an Associate Professor of English at Lehigh University, and Anais’s former professor. We highly recommend you read his critique at his blog.  If you enjoyed Professor Singh’s critique, consider subscribing to his blog Electrostani.

We also apologize for the audio issues we experienced this week. We’re still an indie podcast and your contributions on Patreon go a long way in helping up cover or expenses and smooth out our production.

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Psst: Full list of short stories discussed on the podcast >>

Sal Wants to Sleep | Serena Johe | Literary Roadhouse Ep 129

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Discussion Notes: Sal Wants to Sleep

Find this week’s story here: Sal Wants to Sleep by Serena Johe

Next week’s story: Landfill by Joyce Carol Oates

Rated: Clean Language, Discussion of Suicide

Gerald, Maya and Anais discuss Sal Wants to Sleep by Serena Johe, a short story about a man named Sal who, as the title suggests, cannot sleep. Our hosts are divided in their opinions. On the positive end of the spectrum, Anais gives the most enthusiastic endorsement of this story, while Maya provides a more nuanced critique. The discussion touches on character, pace, theme, and veers into the question of euthanasia.

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Psst: Full list of short stories discussed on the podcast >>

That Evening Sun | William Faulkner | Literary Roadhouse Ep 128

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Discussion Notes: That Evening Sun

Find this week’s story here: That Evening Sun by William Faulkner

Next week’s story: Sal Wants to Sleep by Serena Johe

Rated: Explicit (clean language, adult themes)

This week the Literary Roadhouse hosts are joined by longtime listener

Richard Dennis, writer

Richard Dennis, writer

Richard Dennis. He is a retired corporate attorney who now lives and writes in northern Washington State. His short story “The Most Wanted” appears in the Winter 2018 edition of the literary journal Euphony. Previously, his story “Request for Reconsideration” appeared in the literary journal The Milo Review. Richard has studied with the Writers Studio Workshops and is currently working on his first novel.  

Richard recommended that Literary Roadhouse finally get around to reading Faulkner, dangit! And our regular hosts couldn’t be more grateful for his recommendation of “That Evening Sun.” This story’s unapologetic and poignant critique on racism in the American South fueled a lively conversation that could have gone on for hours.

If you want a host to pick up a story suggestion, drop a line in the comment section, on Twitter @litroadhouse, or in the FB group linked to below.

Interview with Richard

Anais sat down with Richard to discuss his writing and career shift from corporate lawyer to fiction author.  The interview is available to our patrons on Patreon.  

To become a patron, you determine how much to donate to Literary Roadhouse to keep our show going.

Support us on Patreon

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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.

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We’re still a self-funded podcast. We work hard every week to bring you the best content possible.


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Psst: Full list of short stories discussed on the podcast >>

William and Mary | Roald Dahl | Literary Roadhouse Ep 127

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Discussion Notes: William and Mary

Find this week’s story here: William and Mary by Roald Dahl

Next week’s story: That Evening Sun by William Faulkner

Rated: Clean

This week Gerald, Rammy and Anais discuss Roald Dahl’s short story “William and Mary.” This story’s unexpected turn toward horror and revenge thrilled all three hosts. In addition to discussing character, prose and plot, the hosts discussed whether or not they would undergo William’s procedure in death, and discuss longevity and ego.

If you want a host to pick up a story suggestion, drop a line in the comment section, on Twitter @litroadhouse, or in the FB group linked to below.

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.

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We’re still a self-funded podcast. We work hard every week to bring you the best content possible.


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Psst: Full list of short stories discussed on the podcast >>

Defender of the Faith | Philip Roth | Literary Roadhouse Ep 126

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Discussion Notes: Defender of the Faith

Find this week’s story here: Defender of the Faith by Philip Roth

Next week’s story: William and Mary by Roald Dahl

Rated: Clean

This week the Literary Roadhouse hosts discuss Philip Roth’s short story “Defender of the Faith.” The story succeeded in uniting the hosts’ opinions. The no-frills story captivated Maya, Rammy, and Anais, and leads to a discussion of how Philip Roth portrays Jewish people and the controversies that surrounded his characterizations.

If you want a host to pick up a story suggestion, drop a line in the comment section, on Twitter @litroadhouse, or in the FB group linked to below.

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.

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We’re still a self-funded podcast. We work hard every week to bring you the best content possible.


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Psst: Full list of short stories discussed on the podcast >>

The Bottle Neck | Hans Christian Andersen | Literary Roadhouse Ep 125

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Discussion Notes: The Bottle Neck

Find this week’s story here: The Bottle Neck by Hans Christian Andersen

Next week’s story: Defender of the Faith by Philip Roth

Rated: Clean

Michael La Ronn

Michael La Ronn, Author

The Literary Roadhouse hosts welcome back Michael La Ronn, who previously came on our show to disc

uss Life in Stone, Glass, and Plastic by José Pablo Iriarte on Episode 73, and Your Heart is a Muscle The Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa on Bookclub Episode 4.

Michael is the author of over 40 science fiction & fantasy books including the Android X series, Modern Necromancy series, and the Galaxy Mavericks series. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has perfected the art of balancing writing with a full-time job and family, writing 5-7 books per year. You can find him at www.michaellaronn.com.

For this week, he recommended a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, “The Bottle Neck.” This unusual story follows the adventures of a wine bottle’s neck, and the passions and longing of the bottle and of a young woman who lost her betrothed to the sea days after toasting their engagement with wine from The Bottle Neck. Yes, you read that right. The surprising story didn’t make a fan of all three hosts. Nonetheless, there’s plenty to love about this story.

If you want a host to pick up a story suggestion, drop a line in the comment section, on Twitter @litroadhouse, or in the FB group linked to below.

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.

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Support us on Patreon

We’re still a self-funded podcast. We work hard every week to bring you the best content possible.


Support Literary Roadhouse on Patreon


Psst: Full list of short stories discussed on the podcast >>
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