Episode 61 - "Wormwood" by Poppy Z. Brite

Episode 64 - "A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers" by Xiaolu Guo

This week, John and Ben discuss Xiaolu Guo's "A Concise-Chinese Dictionary for Lovers". Topics of conversation include the Guo's use of film references, use of non-standard English in fiction, and the arc of modern Chinese history as observed in the show. As always, we hope you enjoy our conversation!

Episode 63 - "Three Lives" by Gertrude Stein

This week, we're wrapping up our Modernist mini-season by reading "Three Lives" by Gertrude Stein. We discuss our relationships with Stein and other Lost Generation writers, Stein's tactile language, and why something so well written is also so painfully racist. As always, we hope that you enjoy the conversation.

Episode 62 - "Dunfords Travels Everywheres" by William Melvin Kelley

Our modernism mini-season starts with a conversation about "Dunfords Travels Everywheres" by William Melvin Kelley. Topics of conversation include the differences between modernism and post-modernism, the way Kelley pushes the English language, and the role language can play in liberation. As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation!

Episode 61 - "Wormwood" by Poppy Z. Brite

This week we continue our exploration of the Gen X Horror guys by reading "Wormwood" by Poppy Z. Brite. As always, we hope that you enjoy our conversation!

Episode 60 - "My Heart is a Chainsaw" by Stephen Graham Jones

This week, John and Ben are joined by friend of the pod, Kara, to discuss Stephen Graham Jones' love letter to the Slasher genre: "My Heart is a Chainsaw". Topics of conversation include SGJ's background, the slasher's place in American mythology, and the cyclical nature of violence. As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation!