An October/November Update

Reading schedules and a few other odds and ends

Gyula Benczur, Woman Reading in a Forest, 1875, Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest, Hungary.

Hey friends,

Welcome to another update. Lots of information to share, but before I get down to it, I thought you might enjoy this essay by the great Joseph Epstein on the experience that a good bookshop can provide. This is the kind of thing that pushes me to keep going, to make Goldberry better and better every day.

The distinction between a collector and a connoisseur holds that a collector wants everything and a connoisseur only the best of things. In the realm of books, I never had the greedy impulse of the collector, but neither, in those early years, had I the subtle understanding required of the connoisseur. But browsing in serious bookstores over the years has, I like to think, turned me into a connoisseur of sorts.

Okay, let’s get to it . . .

---

Reading Schedules

First, a quick update on Kristin Lavransdatter, our next book for the subscriber series.

Here’s the schedule for our reading of Book I, The Wreath (with episode post dates):

• 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

Thanks to everyone who supports the show through Close Reads HQ. We’re so grateful to have your backing.

Meanwhile, our next book on the main show is A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller.

Here’s the schedule for that one (again, with the dates the episodes will drop):

• October 30: Chapters 1-8

• November 6: Chapters 9-15

• November 13: Chapters 16-24

• November 20: Chapter 25-end

• November 27: Q&A

By the way, apparently this is a book that “still smolders” and is “delightful to read.”

---

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Our next LIVE poetry hour will be on Thursday, 10/26!

So far we have discussed Elizabeth Bishop’s “The Fish” and Robert Frost’s “After Apple Picking,” and both sessions have been a really lovely time of thoughtful camaraderie. We’ll be discussing Rilke’s “Autumn Day” on October 26th from 9:00-10:00 pm EST. Join us!

Remember, if you’re a subscriber here at Close Reads HQ you’ll get an email with access to the conversation.

---

“Short Fiction Focus” and “Close Reads at the Movies”

This month’s subscriber-exclusive discussion on short fiction will cover Mark Twain’s classic story, “Ghost Story,” while Close Reads at the Movies will focus on Double Indemnity, one of the great Films Noir. Perfect for autumn.

Both coming soon!

---

In Case You Missed It . . .

---

Announcing the Book List for 2024: The Great Winnowing!

---

Close Reads at the Movies: "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"

---

Short Fiction Focus: "The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury

---

Thanks for reading! Happy reading, happy listening, happy autumn!