This week’s story: A Challenge You Have Overcome by Allegra Goodman
Next week’s story: The Husband Stitch by Carmen Maria Machado
Rated: Clean
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “A Challenge You Have Overcome” by Allegra Goodman, a story about an older couple who feel stuck in their careers and whose youngest son is applying to colleges. Our hosts discuss the story’s strong start and how it deviated from their expectations, for better or worse.
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.
We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.
Looking for more to read?
Click here for a full list of all short stories discussed on the podcast.
This week’s story: Hollow by Breece D’J Pancake
Next week’s story: A Challenge Your Have Overcome by Allegra Goodman
Rated: Clean
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Hollow” by Breece D’J Pancake, the story of Buddy, a coal miner in West Virginia, his community, and his humble dreams. This story split our hosts. Gerald and Anais gush about the genius of this subtle story. Meanwhile Andy, while agreeing with their analysis, strongly dislikes the story. It gets contentious!
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.
We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.
Looking for more to read?
Click here for a full list of all short stories discussed on the podcast.
This week’s story: Fatima, the Biloquist by Nafissa Thompson-Spires
Next week’s story: Hollow by Breece D’J Pancake
Rated: Clean
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Fatima, the Biloquist” by Nafissa Thompson-Spires, a story of a young, nerdy black girl in a predominantly white neighborhood who is struggling to reconcile her multitudes. She meets a friend who is self-possessed and has opinions on identity. We loved this story and it provoked a great discussion.
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.
We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.
Looking for more to read?
Click here for a full list of all short stories discussed on the podcast.
This week’s story: Hansa and Gretyl and Piece of Shit by Rebecca Curtis
Next week’s story: Fatima, the Biloquist: A Transformation Story by Nafissa Thompson-Spires
Rated: Clean
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Hansa and Gretyl and Piece of Shit” by Rebecca Curtis, a modern twist on a classic fairytale, with a hunter, a talking cat, and evil parents and sisters. All three hosts appreciated the story’s clever craft and strong start, but ended the story feeling like something was missing. They dig into what it could be.
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.
We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.
Looking for more to read?
Click here for a full list of all short stories discussed on the podcast.
This week’s story: The Paper Tiger by Lindsay Kennedy
Next week’s story: Hansa and Gretyl and Piece of Shit by Rebecca Curtis
Rated: Clean
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Paper Tiger” by Lindsay Kennedy, a whimsical story of biblical proportions of a girl with a strong moral compass and her tiger friend. The story is a wonderful read and charmed all three hosts. We urge you to read it!
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.
We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.
Looking for more to read?
Click here for a full list of all short stories discussed on the podcast.
This week’s story: The Hunter’s Wife by Anthony Doerr
Next week’s story: The Paper Tiger by Lindsay Kennedy
Rated: Clean
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Hunter’s Wife” by Anthony Doerr, a story of a Montana hunter and his estranged, magically gifted wife. All three hosts heaped a ton of praise on this flawless story. Six out six ratings across the board. The discussion may have suffered due to all the fawning, but for aspiring writers, the fawning may prove instructive.
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.
We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.
Looking for more to read?
Click here for a full list of all short stories discussed on the podcast.
This week’s story: Every Tiny Tooth and Claw (or: Letters from the First Month of the New Directorate) by Marissa Lingen
Next week’s story: The Hunter’s Wife by Anthony Doerr
Rated: Clean
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Every Tiny Tooth and Claw (or: Letters from the First Month of the New Directorate)” by Marissa Lingen, a epistolary story of academic wizards trying to survive the rise of a fascist regime. The story prompted a deep discussion of the fantasy genre, the short story format, world building, and magic systems.
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.
We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.
Looking for more to read?
Click here for a full list of all short stories discussed on the podcast.
This week’s story: The Daughters of the Moon – Italo Calvino – Literary Roadhouse Ep 202
Next week’s story: Every Tiny Tooth and Claw (or: Letters from the First Month of the New Directorate) by Marissa Lingen
Rated: Clean
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Daughters of the Moon” by Italo Calvino, a story of a consumerist society in a city that lived long ago in a different world. No longer charmed by the aging moon, they throw it in a junkyard, and it’s up to the daughters of the Moon to restore her.
It’s a fanciful story told in a light but insightful tone. Listen for a heated argument between Andy and Anais about the nature of sentient, car-driving mammoths!
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.
We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.
Looking for more to read?
Click here for a full list of all short stories discussed on the podcast.
This week’s story: The Land Where Lemon Trees Bloom by Evan S. Connell
Next week’s story: The Daughters of the Moon by Italo Calvino
Rated: Clean
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Land Where Lemon Trees Bloom” by Evan S. Connell, a story of a man who tells delightful, tall tales. The story charmed our hosts, but was the premise enough to win them over?
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.
We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.
Looking for more to read?
Click here for a full list of all short stories discussed on the podcast.
This week’s story: Callme and Mink by Brenda Cooper
Next week’s story: The Land Where Lemon Trees Bloom by Evan S. Connell
Rated: Clean
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Callme and Mink” by Brenda Cooper, a story about attachments, centered on a robot whose prime directive is to raise and give away dogs.
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.
We are an indie podcast dependent on contributions from listeners like you. You decide how much to give and every bit helps.
Looking for more to read?
Click here for a full list of all short stories discussed on the podcast.
Reading along with us and have comments of your own? You are welcome to leave them on this website, our join our closed Facebook group for story discussion, The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
Literary Roadhouse is a literary podcast where avid readers and aspiring writers read and discuss short and long fiction.
Read deeply.