Podcasts

Ep 179: Freyr by Tommy Orange

Discussion Notes: Freyr

This week’s story: Freyr by Tommy Orange

Next week’s story: Mandatory Carry by Caleb March

Rated: Explicit

Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Freyr” by Tommy Orange. In this story, two men bond over their individual physical deformities. One wears his on his face, the other secretly under his shirt! Anais, Gerald, and Andy all highly rated this one, giving it 6 out of 6 Bradberries. Wow!

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Ep 178: The Curfew by Roddy Doyle

Discussion Notes: The Curfew

This week’s story: The Curfew by Roddy Doyle 

Next week’s story: Freyr by Tommy Orange

Rated: Clean

Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Curfew” by Roddy Doyle, a story of an aging man in Dublin who anticipates an approaching hurricane with surprising eagerness. The story was a rare sensation with all three hosts who were bursting with praise for this beautifully spun tale about aging and late-life reflections.

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Ep 177: The Rabbit Matchmakers by Andrew Phillips

Discussion Notes: The Rabbit Matchmakers

This week’s story: The Rabbit Matchmakers by Andrew Phillips 

Next week’s story: The Curfew by Roddy Doyle 

Rated: Clean

Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Rabbit Matchmakers” by Andrew Phillips, a story of a sensitive boy, his late grandfather’s pet rabbit, and the secrets of his grandfather’s tall-tale life. Gerald and Andy were quite disappointed with the story, but Anais enjoyed it. Despite differences of opinions on what the story is about, the three hosts engage in spirited discussion about the well-drawn characters.

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Ep 176: The Enchanted Forest by Brian Crawford

Discussion Notes: The Enchanted Forest

This week’s story: The Enchanted Forest by Brian Crawford

Next week’s story: The Rabbit Matchmakers by Andrew Phillips

Rated: Clean

Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Enchanted Forest” by Brian Crawford and have wildly different reactions to this tale of two brothers who fight forest fires. Andy and Anais were disappointed with the emotional arc of the story, even as they acknowledged the professional quality of the story that was clearly written by an expert. Gerald more thoroughly enjoyed the story and defends it valiantly. 

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Ep 175: The Wreck at Goat’s Head by Alexandra Manglis

Discussion Notes: The Wreck at Goat’s Head

This week’s story: The Wreck at Goat’s Head by Alexandra Manglis

Next week’s story: The Enchanted Forest by Brian Crawford

Rated: Clean

Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Wreck at Goat’s Head” by Alexandra Manglis, which was recommended by last our previous episode’s guest, Carina Saxon. The story captivated all three hosts with its mysterious prose, alluring magical realism, vivid imagery, and ghostly apparitions. They discuss themes of feminine power, matriarchal lines, and the tradition.

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Ep 174: The Effluent Engine by N.K. Jemisin

Discussion Notes: The Effluent Engine

This week’s story: The Effluent Engine by N.K. Jemisin

Next week’s story: The Wreck at Goat’s Head by Alexandra Manglis

Rated: Clean

This week we welcome Carina Saxon to the podcast to discuss “The Effluent Engine” by N. K. Jemisin

Carina is a content writer. She formerly a Professor of English at Indiana University Bloomington, where she taught “The Effluent Engine” to over 100 undergraduate students. She holds a Master in Victorian Literature from Indiana University.

Carina joined Gerald, Andy and Anais to discuss N.K. Jemisin’s novella-length steampunk, historical fiction, spy thriller. Beneath the flashy and entertaining plot there are nuanced themes pertaining to racism, sexism, and freedom.

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Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.

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Join the Literary Roadhouse Readers Facebook Group!

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Ep 173: Enid & Floyd & the Moon by Jeanne Shoemaker

Discussion Notes: Enid & Floyd & the Moon

This week’s story: Enid & Floyd & the Moon by Jeanne Shoemaker

Next week’s story: The Effluent Engine by N.K. Jemisin

Rated: Clean

This week we welcome Caitlin Hamilton Summie to the podcast to discuss a story she recommends: “Enid & Floyd & the Moon” by Jeanne Shoemaker.

Author Caitlin Hamilton Summie

Author Caitlin Hamilton Summie

Caitlin is the author of the short story collection To Lay To Rest Our Ghosts. The book won the the Phillip J McMath Postpublication award from the University of Central Arkansas, and won Silver in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award for Short Stories. Caitlin earned an MFA with Distinction from Colorado State University, and her short stories have been published in Beloit Fiction Journal, Wisconsin Review, Puerto del Sol, Mud Season Review, and Long Story, Short. She co-owns the book marketing firm, Caitlin Hamilton Marketing & Publicity, founded in 2003. Find her online at Caitlinhamiltonsummie.com and on Twitter @csummie

Caitlin joined Gerald and Anais to discuss a charming story about an elderly couple that is still very much in love. Their life is beset by tragedy and poverty, but the two aging lovebirds stay focused on each other. The story stirred a little fear in Gerald who could perhaps identify a little bit with the characters.

Andy could not join us for this recording this week, but he recorded a two minute riff of his opinion, which is appended at the end of the episode. He also visits us in the Youtube Live comment section during recording to josh us, as is his way. 

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Ep 172: Good Country People by Flannery O’Connor

Discussion Notes: Good Country People

This week’s story: Good Country People by Flannery O’Connor

Next week’s story: Enid & Floyd & the Moon by Jeanne Shoemaker

Rated: Explicit Language

“Good Country People” centers around a mother and daughter, and their neighbors who are also their farm staff. The characters fall into categories with two very opposing world views. Those world views are tested by a traveling Bible salesman who presents two facades that challenge their sense of order and self.

Anais loved the near-perfect short story and tries her best to raise Gerald and Andy’s enthusiasm. Andy is tickled by the word play in the characters names, and Gerald wishes there was more meat in the plot, despite the fact he enjoyed the writing quite a bit.

We’re also back from our unplanned two month hiatus! We produce this show on our own, and the show’s schedule is very reliant on Anais’s. Want to help us stay on schedule? Share the podcast widely with your friends and family, and support us on Patreon

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 The Literary Roadhouse Readers.

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Join the Literary Roadhouse Readers Facebook Group!

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We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.

Ep 171: Sole Solution by Eric Frank Russell

Discussion Notes: Sole Solution

This week’s story: Sole Solution by Eric Frank Russell

Next week’s story: Good Country People by Flannery O’Connor

Rated: Clean

Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Sole Solution” by Eric Frank Russell, which was submitted by a listener named Mark who also watched the live recording and participated in the discussion through YouTube. Gerald and Andy weren’t as won over by the story. In Andy’s case, he preferred similar stories that followed and explored the same themes and philosophies in more nuanced plots. 

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 The Literary Roadhouse Readers.

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We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.

Ep 170: Mr Salary by Sally Rooney

Discussion Notes: Mr Salary

This week’s story: Mr Salary by Sally Rooney

Next week’s story: Sole Solution by Eric Frank Russell

Rated: Explicit

Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Mr Salary” by Sally Rooney, who has been described as the first great writer of the millennial generation. All three hosts loved Rooney’s style, though Andy had a personal bone to pick! Gerald raised an interesting question about whether or not the author’s politics and worldview are embedded in a text that is ostensibly not political (in so much as anything can be apolitical). Anais does her best to find political meaning.

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 The Literary Roadhouse Readers.

Join the Literary Roadhouse Readers Facebook Group 
Join the Literary Roadhouse Readers Facebook Group!

Support us on Patreon

We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.