Hello everyone,
Before I head off to our annual national conference I just wanted to give you a quick update on the goings-on here at the Close Reads Podcast Network. I’ve got news about reading schedules, upcoming books, and a little Instagram giveaway.
First, let’s talk reading schedules: As you know, we’re kicking off the Odyssey next week (just recorded our final on Sense and Sensibility with Karen Swallow Prior), and we will be going through the first two books. Here’s the whole schedule:
Week of July 22: books I-II
Week of July 29: books III-IV
Week of August 5: books V - VIII
Week of August 12: books IX-X
Week of August 19: books XI-XII
Week of August 26: books XIII-XVI
Week of September 2: books XVII - XVIII
Week of September 9: books XIX - XX
Week of September 16: books XXI-XXII
Week of September 22: books XXIII-XXIV
Week of September 29: Q&A Episode
After that we will dive into Louis Auchincloss’ The Rector of Justin, which we will discuss from October 7th to November 4th and which will be followed by A River Runs through It, a novella which we will discuss from November 18th to December 2nd. Then we will finish the year with Peace Like a River. Once we get into the new year, we will dive directly into J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, the book chosen by the winner’s of our auction item (thanks to the bold Jocose people for that!). Hopefully that helps you plan for the next several months of your reading life.
Meanwhile, on The Play’s the Thing: On August 7th that show will be back to kick off a discussion of Othello. Six week’s later we’ll dive headlong into The Tempest. So there’s plenty of great Shakespeare content coming, as well.
Oh, and in case you missed it, I hope you’ll tune into Libromania this week. I spoke with Dr. Chris Hull, who wrote a new book about Graham Greene and his life as a spy called Our Man Down in Havana: The Story Behind Graham Green’s Cold War Spy Novel. I love this conversation and if you like Graham Greene I think you will, too. We talked about his family’s love of spy craft, why he was drawn to the work, and how it’s covered in his work. Subscribe now, and if you like the episode please do leave a review. Grazie!
Finally, I promised a word about an Instagram giveaway. Here’s the deal: we’re giving away a beautiful copy of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn . . . the Folio edition! Here’s how you enter: Go onto the Close Reads IG (“Instagram” to the layman) — that’s @closereadspods — and find the image I posted of my nightstand. Then leave a comment sharing some of the titles on your nightstand, while also tagging a friend who loves books. In a few days we’ll choose a winner from all those commenters. Of course, better yet, post a photo of your own nightstand and the books that are on it, and tag us! Either way, you’ll be entered to win this beautiful book. I’ll post an image of the book, too, while I’m at it.
Okay, that’s it for now.
As always, happy reading. (And I’ll see some of you later this week!)
David