Really loved this book and you’re reading of it! We listened to the audiobook on a recent drive and it was very well done. A reading would have served better for the detailed attention that you guys were able to give it but listening to the book on the first half of the trip and then your podcast on the return trip was wonderful.
As a follow up to the conversation on vices/passions, I would like to recommend the book Orthodox Spirituality by Saint Dumitru Staniloae. He has several chapters devoted to the passions in general and the individual passions which is deeply influenced by the eastern patristic tradition. A much shorter reading by St John Cassin can be found in the first volume of the Philokalia, titled On the Eight Vices. Of course the most significant classical text that discusses these passions and their corresponding virtues – and many other matters – is The Ladder of Divine Ascent.
I definitely will return to this book! I’m grateful to you all for pointing me toward it, it was unknown to me prior to this.
I’ve just realised that there are also 7 children in the story to counter the 7 deadly sins. It reminds me of the Bible verse that says we need to become like little children in order to enter the kingdom of God. The survivors have all humbled themselves to not just to go to the children’s feast but join in the children’s games - dressing up, learning off silly rhymes and singing folk songs - becoming like little children. They weren’t all eager or enthusiastic about it initially but they did all join in by the end in order to please the children. (And the wine helped!)
Back home, back to Close Reads-ing while Zwifting.
I love that y'all went back to the beginning of the novel. I think the Reverend's wrestling gets at that internal conflict we're left with: the justice of the destruction of vice and the tragic loss of real lives.
People who iron and go to the dry cleaners in 2026?! Seriously, I've known for many years that this is the classiest podcast around, bar none! The evening I listened to this episode--that afternoon I had been lying on a creek rock riverbed here in TN, reading Jason Baxter's "The Medieval Mind of C. S. Lewis." He talks about Lewis' love of Boetheius. And...I'm convinced from what Baxter says that Lewis would have thought Kennedy's novel part of the Medieval line of thought.
I was soooo scared that Blanche was not allowed out of the room. She only asked for her sisters to be able to go, and I was really frightened that she was locked into the room by Mrs. Cove. I listened to audio, so maybe I missed a subtle clue, but I really wasn't sure about her until I saw her in the cliff.
Really loved this book and you’re reading of it! We listened to the audiobook on a recent drive and it was very well done. A reading would have served better for the detailed attention that you guys were able to give it but listening to the book on the first half of the trip and then your podcast on the return trip was wonderful.
As a follow up to the conversation on vices/passions, I would like to recommend the book Orthodox Spirituality by Saint Dumitru Staniloae. He has several chapters devoted to the passions in general and the individual passions which is deeply influenced by the eastern patristic tradition. A much shorter reading by St John Cassin can be found in the first volume of the Philokalia, titled On the Eight Vices. Of course the most significant classical text that discusses these passions and their corresponding virtues – and many other matters – is The Ladder of Divine Ascent.
I definitely will return to this book! I’m grateful to you all for pointing me toward it, it was unknown to me prior to this.
I’ve just realised that there are also 7 children in the story to counter the 7 deadly sins. It reminds me of the Bible verse that says we need to become like little children in order to enter the kingdom of God. The survivors have all humbled themselves to not just to go to the children’s feast but join in the children’s games - dressing up, learning off silly rhymes and singing folk songs - becoming like little children. They weren’t all eager or enthusiastic about it initially but they did all join in by the end in order to please the children. (And the wine helped!)
I loved this book so much! It has been my favorite of the year so far. I was happiest that the Cove girls will have someone to love and care for them.
Back home, back to Close Reads-ing while Zwifting.
I love that y'all went back to the beginning of the novel. I think the Reverend's wrestling gets at that internal conflict we're left with: the justice of the destruction of vice and the tragic loss of real lives.
Heeeeey fellow close-reading-on-Zwifter!! 👋
Whaaaat??? There are two of us??? That is awesome!
People who iron and go to the dry cleaners in 2026?! Seriously, I've known for many years that this is the classiest podcast around, bar none! The evening I listened to this episode--that afternoon I had been lying on a creek rock riverbed here in TN, reading Jason Baxter's "The Medieval Mind of C. S. Lewis." He talks about Lewis' love of Boetheius. And...I'm convinced from what Baxter says that Lewis would have thought Kennedy's novel part of the Medieval line of thought.
I have truly found my people.
I was soooo scared that Blanche was not allowed out of the room. She only asked for her sisters to be able to go, and I was really frightened that she was locked into the room by Mrs. Cove. I listened to audio, so maybe I missed a subtle clue, but I really wasn't sure about her until I saw her in the cliff.
One of the best discussions in Close Reads history. The whole thing…great job 😊
Agreed!