Update: Reading Schedules + New Subscriber Benefits for 2025
Hey everyone,
Happy new year!
I apologize that this post is a little late in coming. A few days before Christmas our family got hit with some kind of strong winter cold or the flu or something like that and, being the last to get it, I’m just now emerging amidst a fog of sinus congestion. What I mean to say is: thanks for your patience because I know you’ve been waiting for the reading schedule for the next few books.
Here it is:
Schedule for The Bridge of San Luis Rey
January 6: Parts 1-3
January 13: To the end (parts 4-5)
January 20: Q&A episode
Schedule for A Tale of Two Cities
January 27: Book the first
February 3: Book the second, chapters 1-6
February 10: Book the second, chapters 7-13
February 17: Book the second, chapters 14-19
February 24: Book the second, chapters 20-24
March 3: Book the third, chapters 1-9
March 10: Book the third, chapters 10-15
March 17: Q&A episode
Please note: March 24 will be a special one-off episode and then on March 31 we will begin Willa Cather’s O, Pioneers.
A Note on Subscriber Content for 2025
As you know, in addition to our standard weekly episodes on whatever book we are discussing at any given time, we also have plenty of bonus content for those who support the show by subscribing here on Substack. If that’s you, thank you very much. It truly means a lot.
Close Reads isn’t the single most expensive endeavor to produce (after all it’s not a Disney+ Star Wars show about a ragtag group of freedom fighters) but it’s also not inexpensive. After all, we have to pay Logan (for making the show better than it would be without him), as well as Sean, Heidi, and Tim, each of whom deserve far more than we’re able to pay given the sheer number of hours they put into making it. Plus, there are various other production costs throughout the year. So, truly, when you subscribe, you keep the show going. Thank you!
In 2025, there will be a few changes alongside the old standby content. Here’s a summary of the subscriber benefits for the new year, with new/changes notated with an *:
Bonus episodes on longer books (like The Betrothed and our forthcoming secret project)
Monthly live poetry hour on Zoom
Early access to special event registration (for Founding Members*)
All Q&A episodes*
Periodic insider episodes*
Access to our monthly Close Reads Commonplace Collective feature*
A quarterly Zoom hangout session with other members of the CR community*
Other one-off episodes we decide to drop just because*
A few things to note:
Yes, the Q&A episodes at the end of each series will now become subscriber exclusives. I know this will be a big change for some people, so please feel free to get in touch regarding this if you have any questions.
Insider episodes do not include the Great Winnowing episode where we choose books for the next year. That will remain free. But they would include episodes kind of like that one.
Our Commonplace Collective will be an opportunity to build a really robust commonplace book of sorts each month here at Close Reads HQ. More on this later.
The quarterly Zoom hangouts will offer a chance to get together and chat about . . . anything (what we’re all reading, movies we’re watching, food we’re cooking, etc.). This is a great community. Who wouldn’t want to get to know it’s members?
We are very excited about 2025 on Close Reads. We’ve got lots of big ideas we haven’t announced yet, we want to host more events, and we want to keep getting to know you.
Whether you’re able to subscribe to, and participate in, all the bonus content or you just listen to the flagship episodes, we’re grateful you’re here. It’s a joy to be able to discuss great books with people who love them as much as we do, especially when the people keeping proving to be great, too!
So cheers to the new year—and Happy Reading!
Thank you for all of the hard work and HOURS you spend on making content. Sometimes I have trouble keeping up with the flagship show, mystery podcast, and the subscriber series episodes and reading. I marvel that you get it all done on top of full time work. I will admit I felt relief at the lighter schedule this year. I also read along with a couple other groups in addition to my own reading projects, so it gives me more breathing room, so to speak. So many good books, so little time. But all the time I spend with Close Reads is time well spent.
I first found Close Reads in 2020 and spent lots of time catching up on episodes. I'm snowed in right now and its bringing back those early days! Looking forward to 2025.