A September Update

Reading schedules, subscriber content, and more!

Apple Picking at Eragny-Sur-Epte, 1888 by Camille Pissarro

Hey friends,

It’s time for another update! We have so many things going on here at Close Reads HQ that I am going to send out a monthly email, usually mid-month (give or take), that breaks down everything that is coming up. Reading schedules. Live online events. Upcoming in-person events. HQ bonus content. Book announcements. And this particular email has a little bit of everything.

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First, a quick update on That Hideous Strength, our current book for subscribers:

• We will be dropping an episode on chapters 12-14 this Friday, 9/15

• We will drop our episode on the final chapters on Friday, 9/29

• And then we will drop the Q&A on Friday, 10/13

Thanks to everyone who has been patient the last few weeks. Travel and the Labor Day holiday knocked us off our schedule a little bit.

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Meanwhile, our next book on the main show is One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

Tim, Heidi, and I will be on those three episodes, which will follow this schedule:

• On Monday, 9/18, we will drop a discussion of the first half of the book, ending with “You know I won’t let you down.” (Page 70 in the Signet mass market edition, but it’s half way)

• On Monday, 9/25, we will drop our discussion of the second half of the book.

• And on Monday, 10/2 we will drop our Q&A episode.

After that Sean, Heidi, and I will discuss a very fun English mystery, Edmund’s Crispin’s The Moving Toyshop, following this schedule:

• Monday, 10/9: chapters 1-7

• Monday, 10/16: to the end

• Monday, 10/23: Q&A episode

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Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Our next LIVE poetry hour will be on Monday, 9/25!

We had a great time discussing Elizabeth Bishop’s “The Fish” last month, so thank you to everyone who joined us live (or watched the recording). These sessions are a wonderful chance to hang out with fellow Close Readers while also digging into a brilliant poem. Remember, if you’re a subscriber here at Close Reads HQ you’ll get an email with access to the conversation. This month, we’ll be discussing Robert Frost’s “After Apple Picking.”

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Short Fiction Focus and Close Reads at the Movies

This month’s subscriber-exclusive discussion on short fiction will dig into Ray Bradbury’s “The Veldt” while Close Reads at the Movies will focus on Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a film that features two of the greatest movie stars ever performing one of the greatest screenplays ever written.

Both coming soon!

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Close Reads at the Movies: Rear Window

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And last but certainly not least, it’s time to reveal our next subscriber-exclusive book!

Here are some hints:

• It features a female protagonist . . .

• and takes place during the 14th century . . .

• in Norway

• and one edition including this painting on it’s cover

That’s right, it’s . . . Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset!

As you will see if you click here, you can buy the series in one large volume or as three separate books. For now, here is the schedule on Book I: The Wreath:

October 27: Part 1, chapters 1-3
November 10: Part 1, chapters 4-7
November 24: Part 2, chapters 1-4
December 8: Part 2, chapters 5-8
December 22: Part 3, chapters 1-5
January 5: Part 3, chapters 6-8

We’ve been circling this book for a very long time—and we know it’s one that many of you love dearly—so we’ll do our best to do it justice. Can’t wait.

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I will leave you with a link to this essay about Sigrid Undset, which will be especially valuable for those of you who aren't familiar with her work.

Happy reading!