Brilliant Beginnings: Bleak House

Brilliant Beginnings: Ulysses

In today’s episode, I take a look at the iconic beginning of James Joyce’s “Ulysses” and discuss what makes it so luminous. “Ulysses” is often credited with having a famous opening, but it’s worthwhile unpacking everything that Joyce is doing. How does the Irish sea symbolize a dead mother? How does he use rhythm and syntax to rhyme and pair his lines. Join me in today’s discussion! Get full access to Talk Write at brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe [https://brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Brilliant Beginnings: Number9dream

In today’s reading, I take a look at the turbocharged beginning of David Mitchell’s 2001 novel, Number9dream. Although not as highly regarded as some of his other work, Mitchell’s early novel still shows the trademarks of the master’s fireworking style: humor, clipped pacing, gorgeous details, quickcut characterization, and so much more! Get full access to Talk Write at brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe [https://brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Brilliant Beginnings: Lolita

A few weeks ago, I talked about what made the beginning of Dickens’s Bleak House so outstanding. Continuing on with this theme, today I take a look at Vladimir Nabokov’s demonic fairytale, Lolita. Everybody knows its euphonic opening line (light of my life, fire of my loins) but what else is Nabokov doing here? Join me and we’ll find out together! Get full access to Talk Write at brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe [https://brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Mythic Images: Ascending the Mountain

In today’s video, I look at a piece of travel writing by Robert Twigger and discuss its mythological implications. Whether we admit it or not, mythic patterns are the grammar of our worldviews and are found not just in literature, but anywhere we encounter narrative. Get full access to Talk Write at brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe [https://brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Brilliant Beginnings: Bleak House

In this series, I’ll be looking at some opening pages and talking about what makes them so great. Today, I’m beginning with Dickens’s “Bleak House.” It’s an opening I’ve covered before on my podcast, but there’s still so much to talk about. In twopages, Dickens not only manages to create one of the most unforgettable images of London fog, he does so while combining character, theme, and even plot, and all in a luxurious prose style that relishes words and never comes across as merely descriptive. Get full access to Talk Write at brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe [https://brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]