The Lightly Literary Podcast: Recent Episodes
Travis and Amanda
These humble friends have simple goals: read, think, and talk. Once a week, they call upon their dormant English literature degrees in order to critically read and thoughtfully discuss a book of interest. Whether you're a wine-toting book club veteran or someone who hasn't willingly read a book since high school English, you'll find jovial, measured discussion here. From mythology to romance, historical fiction to science fiction, essays to memoirs, our selections are carefully curated so that your reading schedule is consistently fascinating and diverse. Join us (and read along!) as we pursue literary bliss.
This episode is a book recommendation for THE INTUITIONIST, a novel by Colson Whitehead.
This episode is a book analysis for the second half of 84, Charing Cross Road, a letter correspondence collection by Helene Hanff.
This episode is a book analysis for the first half of 84, Charing Cross Road, a letter correspondence collection by Helene Hanff.
This episode is a book recommendation for 84, Charing Cross Road, a letter correspondence collection by Helene Hanff.
This episode is a book club analysis of THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ZELDA, an essay collection edited by Anthony M. Bean.
This episode is a book club analysis of THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ZELDA, an essay collection edited by Anthony M. Bean.
This episode is a book recommendation for THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ZELDA, an essay collection edited by Anthony M. Bean.
This episode is a book analysis for the second half of KING LEOPOLD’S GHOST, a historical account by Adam Hochschild.
This episode is a book analysis for the first half of KING LEOPOLD’S GHOST, a historical account by Adam Hochschild.
This episode is a book recommendation for KING LEOPOLD’S GHOST, a historical account by Adam Hochschild.
This episode is a book club discussion for TO THE LIGHTHOUSE, a novel by Virginia Woolf.
This episode is a book club discussion for TO THE LIGHTHOUSE, a novel by Virginia Woolf.
This episode is a book recommendation for TO THE LIGHTHOUSE, a novel by Virginia Woolf.
This episode is a book analysis for the second half of Civilwarland in Bad Decline, a short story collection by George Saunders.
This episode is a book analysis for the first half of Civilwarland in Bad Decline, a short story collection by George Saunders.
This episode is a book recommendation for CIVILWARLAND IN BAD DECLINE, a short story collection by George Saunders.
This episode is a book analysis for the second half of PANDORA’S JAR, an essay collection by Natalie Haynes.
This episode is a book analysis for the first half of PANDORA’S JAR, an essay collection by Natalie Haynes.
This episode is a book recommendation for PANDORA’S JAR, an essay collection by Natalie Haynes.
This episode is a book recommendation for A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD, a novel by Jennifer Egan.
This episode is a book recommendation for A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD, a novel by Jennifer Egan.
This episode is a book recommendation for A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD, a novel by Jennifer Egan.
This episode is a book analysis for the second half of PACHINKO, a novel by Min Jin Lee.
This episode is a book analysis for the first half of PACHINKO, a novel by Min Jin Lee.
This episode is a book analysis for the second half of THE CITY AND THE CITY, a novel by China Mieville.
This episode is a book analysis for the first half of THE CITY AND THE CITY, a novel by China Mieville.
This episode is a book recommendation for THE CITY AND THE CITY, a novel by China Mieville.
This episode is a book analysis for the second half of SOCCER IN SUN AND SHADOW, an essay collection by Eduardo Galeano.
This episode is a book analysis for the first half of SOCCER IN SUN AND SHADOW, an essay collection by Eduardo Galeano.
This episode is a book recommendation for SOCCER IN SUN AND SHADOW, an essay collection by Eduardo Galeano.
This episode is a book analysis for the second half of THE HUMAN STAIN, a novel by Philip Roth.
This episode is a book analysis of the second half of DUBLINERS, a short story collection by James Joyce.
This episode is a book analysis of the first half of DUBLINERS, a short story collection by James Joyce.
This episode is a book recommendation for DUBLINERS, a short story collection by James Joyce.
This episode is a book analysis for CRYING IN H MART, an autobiography by Michelle Zauner.
This episode is a book analysis for CRYING IN H MART, an autobiography by Michelle Zauner.
This episode is a book recommendation for CRYING IN H MART, an autobiography by Michelle Zauner.
This episode is a part 2 book club for SLOUCHING TOWARDS BETHLEHEM, an essay collection by Joan Didion.
This episode is a part 1 book club for SLOUCHING TOWARDS BETHLEHEM, an essay collection by Joan Didion.
This episode is a book recommendation for SLOUCHING TOWARDS BETHLEHEM, an autobiography by Joan Didion.
This episode is a book analysis for the second half of WORLD OF WONDERS, an autobiography by Aimee Nezhukumatathil.
This episode is a book analysis for the first half of WORLD OF WONDERS, an autobiography by Aimee Nezhukumatathil.
This episode is a book recommendation for WORLD OF WONDERS, an autobiography by Aimee Nezhukumatathil.
This episode is an analysis for the second half of UNCOMMON TYPE, a short story collection by Tom Hanks.
This episode is an analysis for the first half of UNCOMMON TYPE, a short story collection by Tom Hanks.
This episode is a book recommendation for UNCOMMON TYPE, a short story collection by Tom Hanks.
This episode is an analysis of the second half of THE INCAL, a graphic novel by Jodorowsky and Moebius.
This episode is an analysis of the first half of THE INCAL, a graphic novel by Jodorowsky and Moebius.
This episode is a book recommendation for THE INCAL, a graphic novel by Jodorowsky and Moebius.
This episode is a book analysis of the second half of WE ARE OKAY, a novel by Nina LaCour.
This episode is a book analysis of the first half of WE ARE OKAY, a novel by Nina LaCour.
This episode is a book analysis for the second half of GHETTOSIDE, a nonfiction narrative by Jill Leovy.
This episode is a book analysis for the first half of GHETTOSIDE, a nonfiction narrative by Jill Leovy.
This episode is a book recommendation for GHETTOSIDE, a nonfiction narrative by Jill Leovy.
This episode is a book analysis for the second half of SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, a novel by Ray Bradbury.
This episode is a book analysis for the first half of SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, a novel by Ray Bradbury.
This episode is a book recommendation for SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, a novel by Ray Bradbury.
This episode is a book analysis of the second half of THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END, a novel by Adam Silvera.
This episode is a book analysis of the first half of THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END, a novel by Adam Silvera.
This episode is a book recommendation for THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END, a novel by Adam Silvera.
This episode is a book analysis for the second half of HOMEGOING, a novel by Yaa Gyasi.
This episode is a book analysis for the second half of TRUE GRIT, a novel by Charles Portis.
This episode is a book analysis for the first half of TRUE GRIT, a novel by Charles Portis.
This episode analyzes the second half of Field Notes from a Catastrophe, a nonfiction book by Elizabeth Kolbert.
This episode analyzes the first half of Field Notes from a Catastrophe, a nonfiction book by Elizabeth Kolbert.
This episode is a book recommendation for FIELD NOTES FROM A CATASTROPHE, a nonfiction book by Elizabeth Kolbert.
This episode is an analysis of the second half of My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, a graphic novel by Emil Ferris.
This episode is a book analysis of the first half of MY FAVORITE THING IS MONSTERS, a graphic novel by Emil Ferris.
This episode is a book recommendation for the graphic novel MY FAVORITE THING IS MONSTERS by Emil Ferris.
This episode is a book analysis of the second half of You Can’t Keep a Good Woman Down, a short story collection by Alice Walker.
This episode is a book analysis of the first half of You Can’t Keep a Good Woman Down by Alice Walker.
This episode is a book recommendation for You Can’t Keep a Good Woman Down, a collection of short stories, by Alice Walker.
This episode is a book recommendation for Born a Crime, an autobiography and essay collection, by Trevor Noah.
This episode is a book analysis of the second half of Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom by Thomas E. Ricks.
This episode is a book analysis of the first half of Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom by Thomas E. Ricks.
This episode is a book recommendation for Churchill and Orwell - The Fight for Freedom, a dual biography, by Thomas E. Ricks.
In this episode, Travis and Amanda track Nanapush’s increasingly desperate efforts and Pauline’s increasingly harrowing descent into madness. Simply put: it’s an intense finish to this novel, folks! We discuss Fleur’s ultimate impact on the story, the novel’s potent symbolic moments, and its messages and ideas about how Indians can survive in America. We hope you join us for the discussion of this incredible novel.
This episode is a book analysis of the second half of Wilde in America by David M. Friedman.
This episode is a book analysis of the first half of Wilde in America by David M. Friedman.
This episode is a book analysis of the second half of The Devil in the White CIty by Erik Larson.
This episode is a book analysis of the first half of The Devil in the White CIty by Erik Larson.
This episode is a book analysis of the second half of Sansei and Sensibility by Karen Tei Yamashita.
This episode is a book analysis of the first half of Sansei and Sensibility by Karen Tei Yamashita.
This episode is a book recommendation for Sansei and Sensibility by Karen Tei Yamashita.
This episode is a book analysis of the second half of Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton.
This episode is a book analysis of the first half of Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton.
This episode is a book recommendation for Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton.
This episode is a book analysis of the second half of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
This episode is a book analysis of the first half of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
This episode is a book recommendation for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
This episode is a book analysis of the second half of the novel Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo.
This episode is a book analysis of the first half of the novel Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo.
This episode is a book analysis of “The Body” by Stephen King, from his collection Different Seasons.
This episode is a book analysis of “The Breathing Method” by Stephen King, from his collection Different Seasons.
This episode is a book analysis of the second half of Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami.
This episode is a book analysis of the first half of Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami.
This episode is a book recommendation for Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami.
This episode is a book analysis of the second half of Janesville, an American Story by Amy Goldstein.
This episode is a book analysis of the first half of Janesville, an American Story by Amy Goldstein.
This episode is a book recommendation for Janesville, an American Story by Amy Goldstein.
This episode is a highlights episode for books 61-80 of our book reviews of Penguin’s Little Black Classics collection.
This episode is a book review of “The Dhammapada,” a collection of spiritual verse attributed to the Buddha.
This episode is a book review of “Speaking of Siva,” a collection of poetry by four medieval Hindu saints.
This episode is a book review of “The Madness of Cambyses,” a historical account by Herodotus.
This episode is a book review of “A Slip under the Microscope,” a collection of short stories by H.G. Wells.
This episode is a review of “Kasyan from the Beautiful Lands,” a collection of short stories by Ivan Turgenev.
This episode is a book review of “Miss Brill,” a collection of short stories by Katherine Mansfield.
This episode is a book review of “Il Duro,” a collection of travelogues by D.H. Lawrence.
This episode is a book review of “Circe and the Cyclops,” an excerpt from “The Odyssey” by Homer.
This episode is a book review of “I Hate and I Love,” a collection of erotic poetry by Catullus.
This episode is a book review of “The Robber Bridegroom,” a collection of fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm.
This episode is a book review of “It Was Snowing Butterflies,” a collection of nonfiction by Charles Darwin.
This episode is a book review of “A Pair of Silk Stockings,” a collection of short stories by Kate Chopin.
In this episode, we analyze the collection of short fiction and essays, Octavia’s Brood.
This episode is a book review of “The Voyage of Sir Francis Drake Around the Whole Globe,” a nonfiction travelogue by Richard Hakluyt.
This episode is a book review of “The Night Is Darkening Round Me,” a collection of poetry by Emily Bronte.
This episode is a book review of “Lips too chilled,” a collection of haiku by Matsuo Basho.
This episode is a book review of “The Dolphins, the Whales and the Gudgeon,” a collection of fables by Aesop.
This episode is a highlights episode for books 41-60 of our book reviews of Penguin’s Little Black Classics collection.
This episode is a book review of “Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime,” a short story by Oscar Wilde.
This episode is a book review of “Leonardo da Vinci,” a collection of biographies by Giorgio Vasari.
This episode is a book review of “How Much Land Does a Man Need?”, a collection of short stories by Leo Tolstoy.
This episode is a book review of “The Life of a Stupid Man,” a collection by modernist Japanese author Ryunosuke Akutagawa.
This episode is a book review of “Sindbad the Sailor,” a short story collection from One Thousand and One Nights.
This episode is a book review of “Goblin Market,” a poetry collection by Christina Rossetti.
This episode is a book review of “My Dearest Father,” a collection of letters by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his father.
This episode is a book review of “Anthem for Doomed Youth,” a poetry collection by Wilfred Owen.
This episode is a book review of “The Figure in the Carpet,” a short story by Henry James.
This episode is a book review of “The Reckoning,” a collection of two short stories by Edith Wharton.
This episode is a book review of “The Nose,” a short story collection by Nikolai Gogol.
This episode is a highlights episode for books 21-40 of our book reviews of Penguin’s Little Black Classics collection.
This episode is a book review of “How a Ghastly Story Was Brought to Light by a Common or Garden Butcher’s Dog.”
This episode is a collection of clips from episodes 11-20 of our Penguin Little Black Classics book reviews.
This episode is a collection of clips from episodes 1-10 of our Penguin Little Black Classics book reviews.
In this episode, the brothers review the nonfiction travelogue “Travels in the Land of Serpents and Pearls.”
In this episode, the brothers review a collection of poetry by Wang Wei, Li Po, and Tu Fu.
In this episode, the brothers review a collection of maxims called “Aphorisms on Love and Hate.”
In this episode, the brothers review the satirical essay “On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts.”
In this episode, the brothers review the ancient story The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-tongue.
In this episode, the brothers review the poetry and journal entries collection As Kingfishers Catch Fire.
In this episode, the brothers review the short fiction collection Mrs. Rosie and the Priest.
In this book club entry, the brothers analyze the nonfiction investigation I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.
In this book club entry, the brothers analyze the comic book / graphic novel Paper Girls.
In this book club entry, the brothers analyze the short fiction collection The Dark Dark.