Palate Cleanser: Train Dreams by Denis Johnson

Palate Cleanser: Train Dreams by Denis Johnson

Sam and Tex take a break from their Throne of Glass journey to explore Dennis Johnson's haunting novella Train Dreams. This "palate cleanser" episode dives deep into the story of Robert Grainier, a day laborer in the early 20th century American West who faces profound loss when wildfire claims his wife and infant daughter. What We Discuss: * Dennis Johnson's remarkable range as a writer and his journey from homelessness to literary acclaim * Why Train Dreams should have won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize (spoiler: they didn't choose a winner that year) * The mythic loneliness of frontier life and how Johnson captures the end of an era * How this novella manages to be both heartbreaking and hopeful * The beautiful, spare prose that makes every sentence count * Comparisons to The Old Man and the Sea and Lonesome Dove * Why library book dog-earers should face federal prison time (strong opinions ahead) The Book: Train Dreams follows Robert Grainier through decades of solitary life in the Idaho Panhandle, from railroad work to devastating personal loss to the slow encroachment of modernity on the American wilderness. Johnson's masterful storytelling transforms an ordinary man's life into something mythic and deeply moving. Perfect for fans of literary fiction, Western literature, and anyone who appreciates beautiful, understated storytelling. Next up: Back to Queen of Shadows and more fantasy draft predictions for the Throne of Glass series.

Heir of Fire (Ch. 36–68): To Purr, or Not to Purr

We survived Heir of Fire—barely. In this episode, we tackle the slow start, the suddenly NASCAR-paced second half, and the very real problem of every man in this book purring. We talk cousin love, messiah complexes, flying witches, bubble battles, and the unkillable fantasy dog. Plus: why the ending felt like a CW fever dream, and what it means when your protagonist is too perfect to care about. Also featuring: * Star Wars tangents * Below Deck fanfic * YA fantasy scorecards * And our next read: Train Dreams by Denis Johnson.

Heir of Fire (Ch. 1–35): Rowan is Hot, She's Mary Sue, Dorian's Got Magic, and Chaol Broods

Chapters 1–35 of Heir of Fire are in the books, and we're here to talk trauma bonding, wyvern ethics, and why the witches are carrying the narrative weight. We break down the endless setup, the purr count (eight, if you're asking), and whether Celaena is a queen or just a YA fever dream. Also: Rowan might be Tarzan, Chaol broods, and yes—we have strong opinions about fantasy maps. Welcome back to Couple Guys Reading, the only podcast brave enough to compare East of Eden to a Sarah J. Maas novel. Watch the Episode on YouTube! [https://youtu.be/WO0XrmdE_Pg]

Heir of Fire Predictions: Secret Princes, Jungle Spas, and Total Nonsense

In this episode of A Couple Guys Reading, Sam and Tex dive into Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas, cracking jokes and swapping predictions like fantasy football picks. They revisit the reading order debate around Assassin’s Blade, compare the series to Star Wars and Narnia, and reflect on Sarah J. Maas’s tendency to make her heroine, Celaena Sardothien, the best at everything. With deadpan takes and affectionate jabs at the fantasy genre, they lay out wild theories—from Fey love interests turning out to be evil overlords, to inexplicable spas in ancient kingdoms—all while keeping the vibe light and absurdly literary. As always, the banter’s top-tier, the references nerdy, and the friendship real.

Palate Cleanser: East of Eden by John Steinbeck

After a long run of romantasy, we needed a breather. So for this palate cleanser episode, we picked up East of Eden by John Steinbeck. It’s a book that feels bigger than itself—family, legacy, good and evil, the whole deal.  We talk about what hit us, what surprised us, and how somehow this 20th-century novel about California farmers felt more intense than half the fantasy battles we’ve read. No fae in this one. Just some deeply human stuff and a lot of thoughts we didn’t expect to have. Sam references this article East of Eden and the Human Condition.  [https://wm.wts.edu/read/east-of-eden-and-the-human-condition]