David’s sick, so this week Heidi and Sean discuss letting go of worldly attachments, the value of the priest’s weakness, his first spiritual successes, and his changing relationship with the diary. Close Reads is a community-supported endeavor. Please consider supporting our work by subscribing today!
Such a great discussion, especially on the strength of his weakness. So beautiful.
The lock of hair as a symbol of their idols was also such a great insight.
Especially because our priest himself would have recieved the tonsure. In those days in the Roman Rite when a man entered the clerical state as a seminarian and received the cassock, the bishop would also cut off a lock of his hair as a sign of renunciation of the world and the self.
I like the idea of reading Azkaban for a future read. But I was thinking how about a banned book? There are so many awesome ones. I used to have a tshirt that listed the top 25. And just my experience, but banning a book is just about the surest way to get a teen/preteen to read it. 😆
That was so fun to hear about Tim's little daughter! Arden Anne is such a perfect nod to Shakespeare. I appreciated this episode so much! I was reminded a lot of The Power and the Glory in this section and as I listened to your discussion. I also found the discussion of the priest's weakness profound. I'll be thinking on that for a while. I noticed the priest's tears in chapter 7 as I read ahead a bit.
I just finished Kristin Lavransdatter and would love to hear it discussed for subscriber episodes. It was such an intense experience. I vote Our Mutual Friend for Dickens! I just read it in December and wow...loved it!
I made the comment last week about feeling untethered from the events of the novel, and I had to eat my words because the scene between the priest and the Comtesse was so intense. I was riveted throughout. His care for her heart was moving. I was blindsided by her death--I did not at all see that coming, and I admit I gasped out loud when I saw that entry.
And now I'm thinking about how the priest's weakness draws out goodness from the little girl, Seraphita. I'm so used to thinking about how I can always be strong and do the right thing, and maybe sometimes God uses your weakness to give another person an opportunity to open their hearts.
This was a great episode, though David was missed. I hope he is feeling better now!
Heidi's and Sean's discussion about the priest's weakness being his superpower was so good. Before they talked about it, I somehow missed the massive significance of the priest's tears and the Countess saying, "I'm stronger than you." This book is such a powerful illustration of those verses in 2 Corinthians 12 that surround "when I am weak, then am I strong."
When the Countess throws the locket with her son's hair into the fire and the priest reaches into the flames to save it for her... Ugh. Such an incredible moment. Heidi describes it perfectly as the Countess renouncing her idol and the priest serving as mediator to return it to her redeemed.
In Fear and Trembling, Kierkegaard considers Abraham to be the "knight of faith" because Abraham willingly raises the knife to sacrifice Isaac while, simultaneously, "hoping against hope" that his son with be returned to him. That same double movement - renunciation and hope in the absurd - is captured wonderfully in this moment between the Countess and the priest.
I was just thinking about the comment of how the listening numbers are low for this book. I wonder if it might have to do with how much less available it is through library and digital library services. That's how I get most of my books for the show and it's certainly slowing me down with this one. (I say as I just had to return our big metro library's only copy unfinished because it was on hold, and none of the various digital libraries I have access to have it)
Oh oh oh! I just finished listening to The Prisoner of Azkaban and was thinking how absolutely wonderful it would be to hear Heidi talk about it. That's my suggestion for a Substack Subscriber next book. It's such a good book.
I would love to do The Brothers Karamazov for a subscriber book. Maybe I could actually finish it!
Yes!
I'm really enjoying this discussion, but when will the Out of the Silent planet discussion return? I'm really missing it!
Such a great discussion, especially on the strength of his weakness. So beautiful.
The lock of hair as a symbol of their idols was also such a great insight.
Especially because our priest himself would have recieved the tonsure. In those days in the Roman Rite when a man entered the clerical state as a seminarian and received the cassock, the bishop would also cut off a lock of his hair as a sign of renunciation of the world and the self.
I like the idea of reading Azkaban for a future read. But I was thinking how about a banned book? There are so many awesome ones. I used to have a tshirt that listed the top 25. And just my experience, but banning a book is just about the surest way to get a teen/preteen to read it. 😆
That was so fun to hear about Tim's little daughter! Arden Anne is such a perfect nod to Shakespeare. I appreciated this episode so much! I was reminded a lot of The Power and the Glory in this section and as I listened to your discussion. I also found the discussion of the priest's weakness profound. I'll be thinking on that for a while. I noticed the priest's tears in chapter 7 as I read ahead a bit.
I just finished Kristin Lavransdatter and would love to hear it discussed for subscriber episodes. It was such an intense experience. I vote Our Mutual Friend for Dickens! I just read it in December and wow...loved it!
I made the comment last week about feeling untethered from the events of the novel, and I had to eat my words because the scene between the priest and the Comtesse was so intense. I was riveted throughout. His care for her heart was moving. I was blindsided by her death--I did not at all see that coming, and I admit I gasped out loud when I saw that entry.
And now I'm thinking about how the priest's weakness draws out goodness from the little girl, Seraphita. I'm so used to thinking about how I can always be strong and do the right thing, and maybe sometimes God uses your weakness to give another person an opportunity to open their hearts.
This was a great episode, though David was missed. I hope he is feeling better now!
Heidi's and Sean's discussion about the priest's weakness being his superpower was so good. Before they talked about it, I somehow missed the massive significance of the priest's tears and the Countess saying, "I'm stronger than you." This book is such a powerful illustration of those verses in 2 Corinthians 12 that surround "when I am weak, then am I strong."
Another great discussion about an amazing book!
When the Countess throws the locket with her son's hair into the fire and the priest reaches into the flames to save it for her... Ugh. Such an incredible moment. Heidi describes it perfectly as the Countess renouncing her idol and the priest serving as mediator to return it to her redeemed.
In Fear and Trembling, Kierkegaard considers Abraham to be the "knight of faith" because Abraham willingly raises the knife to sacrifice Isaac while, simultaneously, "hoping against hope" that his son with be returned to him. That same double movement - renunciation and hope in the absurd - is captured wonderfully in this moment between the Countess and the priest.
Oh, I love that connection to Abraham and Isaac!
Great discussion once again! I’m still chuckling about Heidi calling the little girl “diabolical” 😂
Another vote for Kristin Lavransdatter!
What about Atonement? I didn’t like the movie when I watched it years ago, but I’d like to read it before I give it another shot.
Les Miserables (not sure others could handle another gloomy Frenchman at the moment though…).
I’m curious but don’t know much about anything by Vonnegut.
100 Years of Solitude
Moby Dick
I would love Moby Dick! But it's so long that it will have to be for subscribers.
Oh I would love to do Les Mis
I was just thinking about the comment of how the listening numbers are low for this book. I wonder if it might have to do with how much less available it is through library and digital library services. That's how I get most of my books for the show and it's certainly slowing me down with this one. (I say as I just had to return our big metro library's only copy unfinished because it was on hold, and none of the various digital libraries I have access to have it)
Oh oh oh! I just finished listening to The Prisoner of Azkaban and was thinking how absolutely wonderful it would be to hear Heidi talk about it. That's my suggestion for a Substack Subscriber next book. It's such a good book.