<![CDATA[Close Reads Podcast HQ ]]>https://closereads.substack.comhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Kh1g!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F691c76cd-11ba-4492-ad88-30975107db28_256x256.pngClose Reads Podcast HQ https://closereads.substack.comSubstackTue, 16 Jun 2026 08:57:32 GMT<![CDATA[Short Story Hour: Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains" ]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/short-story-hour-ray-bradburys-therehttps://closereads.substack.com/p/short-story-hour-ray-bradburys-thereFri, 12 Jun 2026 16:57:37 GMTHey subscribers, welcome to our June short story hour! This month we’re digging into Ray Bradbury’s much-anthologized short story, “There Will Come Soft Rains.” Happy listening!

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]]><![CDATA[The Feast: Thursday ]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/the-feast-thursdayhttps://closereads.substack.com/p/the-feast-thursdayMon, 08 Jun 2026 21:41:23 GMTWelcome back to our series on Margaret Kennedy’s The Feast! We begin by answering a couple of listener questions, before discussing the fascinating “symposium” at the heart of this section (“what is wrong with this country!?”), Nancibel’s lovely conversation with her mother, and the Cove girls’ tragic conflict with their mother. Happy listening!

If you enjoy Close Reads please consider subscribing to Close Reads HQ. Your support keeps the showing going.

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]]><![CDATA[Monthly Mystery: Seishi Yokomizo's "The Inugami Curse"]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/monthly-mystery-seishi-yokomizoshttps://closereads.substack.com/p/monthly-mystery-seishi-yokomizosWed, 03 Jun 2026 16:56:19 GMTHello and welcome to May’s monthly mystery here at Close Reads HQ (a few days late; sorry about that!) Join in as we discuss a classic Japanese murder mystery that feature many twists and turns! As always we discuss the big picture view before digging into the categories. Thanks for the support and happy listening. And be sure to let us know what you th…

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]]><![CDATA[The Feast: Wednesday]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/the-feast-wednesdayhttps://closereads.substack.com/p/the-feast-wednesdayTue, 02 Jun 2026 16:37:49 GMTWelcome back to our series on Margart Kennedy’s novel. This week we’re discussing Bruce’s confession, Hebe’s adventure (and insight into people), Siddal’s perceptions despite his sloth, patience and the spiritual life, patience vs wrath, and much more. Happy listening!

If you enjoy Close Reads please consider subscribing to Close Reads HQ. Your support keeps the showing going.

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]]><![CDATA[Beowulf (the Tolkien translation): Lines 681-1389]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/beowulf-the-tolkien-translation-lines-339https://closereads.substack.com/p/beowulf-the-tolkien-translation-lines-339Fri, 29 May 2026 17:35:01 GMTWelcome back to our subscriber-exclusive series on Tolkien’s version of Beowulf. This week topics of conversation include the vast array of things that show up in The Lord of the Rings that seems inspired by Beowulf, how to understand the poem’s tales-within-tales (and Danish court poets), the dramatic battle with Grendel’s vengeful mother, and much, mu…

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]]><![CDATA[The Feast: Tuesday ]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/the-feast-tuesdayhttps://closereads.substack.com/p/the-feast-tuesdayWed, 27 May 2026 02:59:08 GMTWelcome back to another conversation about Margaret Kennedy’s The Feast. This week we begin by discussing some audience comments, then we discuss a number of topics, including poor Bruce and his bad decisions, Mrs Gifford vs Mrs Cove, and the difference between subtly and cleverness in literature (and whether either are artistic virtues), and more. Happy listening!

]]><![CDATA[Short Story Hour: "Foster, You're Dead!" by Philip K. Dick]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/short-story-hour-foster-youre-deadhttps://closereads.substack.com/p/short-story-hour-foster-youre-deadFri, 22 May 2026 14:12:25 GMTWelcome to another episode of our new series on classic short stories! This month, it’s a much-anthologized science fiction story by one of the most notable genre writers ever. David and Sean dig in—and try to convince Heidi she should read both it and the science fiction genre.Happy listening!

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]]><![CDATA[The Feast: Monday ]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/the-feast-mondayhttps://closereads.substack.com/p/the-feast-mondayMon, 18 May 2026 23:45:47 GMTAnd then it was Monday in Margaret Kennedy’s The Feast.

This week topics of discussion includes the way the various characters may (or may not) represent the seven deadly sins, which characters we root for the most (and which we despise the most), the question of hope in the story, and much more, as usual. Happy listening!

]]><![CDATA[Beowulf (the Tolkien translation): Lines 1-680]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/beowulf-the-tolkien-translation-lineshttps://closereads.substack.com/p/beowulf-the-tolkien-translation-linesFri, 15 May 2026 19:58:52 GMTWelcome to our new subscriber-exclusive series on J.R.R. Tolkien’s wonderful translation of Beowulf. We’re kicking things off by discussing some differences in the various translations, what makes this story so worth reading for contemporary readers, the particularly Christian worldview that the Beowulf poet presents, and much more. Happy listening!

]]><![CDATA[The Feast: Prologue-Sunday ]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/the-feast-prologue-sundayhttps://closereads.substack.com/p/the-feast-prologue-sundayMon, 11 May 2026 20:54:53 GMTWelcome to the first episode of a new series on Margaret Kennedy’s novel, The Feast. We discuss the book’s allegorical bent (and how it’s different than most allegorical novels), the role of each of the main characters, the unique structure of the book (and it’s early reveals), and much more. Happy listening!

]]><![CDATA[The Grapes of Wrath Q&A Episode]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/the-grapes-of-wrath-q-and-a-episodehttps://closereads.substack.com/p/the-grapes-of-wrath-q-and-a-episodeWed, 06 May 2026 19:17:11 GMTYou have questions, we did our best to answer them. Thanks for tuning in to this series on Steinbeck’s classic novel and happy listening!

]]><![CDATA[Monthly Mystery: Margery Allingham's "The Tiger in the Smoke" ]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/monthly-mystery-margery-allinghamshttps://closereads.substack.com/p/monthly-mystery-margery-allinghamsSun, 03 May 2026 02:52:57 GMTHello and welcome to April’s monthly mystery here at Close Reads HQ (a few days late; sorry about that!) Join in as we discuss Margery Allingham’s most highly regarded book—a book which might just have won us all over to Allingham’s work! As always we discuss the big picture view before digging into the categories. Thanks for the support and happy liste…

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]]><![CDATA[The Grapes of Wrath: To the End ]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/the-grapes-of-wrath-to-the-endhttps://closereads.substack.com/p/the-grapes-of-wrath-to-the-endTue, 28 Apr 2026 03:03:16 GMTSo about that ending . . . We discuss (from a variety of angles). Happy listening!

]]><![CDATA[The Grapes of Wrath: Chapter 26 ]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/the-grapes-of-wrath-chapter-26https://closereads.substack.com/p/the-grapes-of-wrath-chapter-26Tue, 21 Apr 2026 03:17:16 GMTThis week’s episode is dedicated entirely to the lengthy chapter 26 so we have a chance to discuss poor Casy’s complicated arc and the Christ-like allusion in his demise and whether the novel present’s Tom’s killing of Casy’s murderer as justified (and what justice is in this story). Plus we hear from a few listeners and much more. As always, happy listening!

]]><![CDATA[Cocktail Time (P. G. Wodehouse)]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/cocktail-time-p-g-wodehousehttps://closereads.substack.com/p/cocktail-time-p-g-wodehouseThu, 16 Apr 2026 03:07:44 GMTWelcome back to the final installment of our P. G. Wodehouse season and this time we’re discussing one of the most underrated novels in his canon, Cocktail Time. It’s one part meta, one part mystery, one part romantic comedy, all presented in the POV of the mischievous Lord Ickenham and wrapped up in the unique voice of the pre-eminent comedic novelist …

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]]><![CDATA[Join Us This July for a Special Live Close Reads Event on the Importance (and Awesomeness) of the Mystery Genre! ]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/join-us-this-july-for-a-special-livehttps://closereads.substack.com/p/join-us-this-july-for-a-special-liveWed, 15 Apr 2026 19:10:30 GMTDear Close Readers,

You are cordially invited to a very special (and, we anticipate, very fun) event this July 10-11 during which we’ll be celebrating mystery fiction. It’s called “Mystery and Manners: On Locked Rooms, Red Herrings, and the Most Important Literary Genre of the Last Century” and will be a contemplation of the many ways mystery stories offer a remedy for what ails modernity.

Featuring an array of fun shenanigans (including a murder mystery dinner party and a mystery-themed Close Reads Variety Hour) alongside thoughtful, contemplative discussions about what makes this incredibly fun genre also a deeply meaningful one, this event will debate the merits of various detectives, explore various tropes and why they matter, and celebrate the notion that order can be restored in a chaotic world.

CLAIM A SEAT!

So whether you've read every Agatha Christie novel a dozen times or prefer to stick with American noir this event will be the perfect setting to investigate Chesterton's claim that the genre is "the earliest and only form of popular literature in which is expressed some sense of the poetry of modern life."

This event will take place in the lovely Downtown Warehouse here in Concord, NC, just a brief walk from the front door of Goldberry Books. It is open to just seventy-five attendees, so don’t wait if you want to claim a seat!

To register, see the current schedule, or learn more click here.

We’d be thrilled to see you there! Hope you’ll plan to spend one of your summer weekends with us and the always lovely Close Reads community. After all, what’s better than talking about books with great people?

In the meantime, happy reading!

Sincerely,

David, Heidi, and Sean

]]><![CDATA[The Grapes of Wrath: Chapters 22-25]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/the-grapes-of-wrath-chapters-22-25https://closereads.substack.com/p/the-grapes-of-wrath-chapters-22-25Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:35:22 GMTIs ma emerging as Steinbeck’s new protagonist? Does the “grapes of wrath” chapter work? And what of the book’s evolving view of religion? We discuss these and several topics on this week’s episode. Happy listening!

]]><![CDATA[Short Story Hour: "Leaf by Niggle" by J. R. R. Tolkien (FREE PREVIEW) ]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/short-story-hour-leaf-by-niggle-byhttps://closereads.substack.com/p/short-story-hour-leaf-by-niggle-byFri, 10 Apr 2026 15:22:16 GMTWelcome to another episode of our new series on classic short stories! This month, it’s Tolkien’s beloved story about creativity, hope, and the finitude of life. It’s also a little bit about Dante and Virgil, maybe a bit auto-biographical, and the perfect story to discuss during the Easter season. We discuss. Happy listening!

]]><![CDATA[The Grapes of Wrath: Chapters 19-21]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/the-grapes-of-wrath-chapters-19-21https://closereads.substack.com/p/the-grapes-of-wrath-chapters-19-21Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:02:07 GMTDoes Casy redeem himself with his heroic action? Does this this book live too much in the realm of artifice? Does this book, like East of Eden, feature the idea of timshel and in what ways is his view of human nature different in this novel. Also: Tom as microcosm. These and many other topics are on this episode’s rundown. Happy listening!

]]><![CDATA[Vote Now in the Final Matchup of the 2026 Close Reads Literary Bracket! ]]>https://closereads.substack.com/p/vote-now-in-the-final-matchup-of-698https://closereads.substack.com/p/vote-now-in-the-final-matchup-of-698Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:03:48 GMT

And so we come to the end.

Twain. Steinbeck. Steinbeck. Twain Which is the Great American Novelist? The author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Puddn’head Wilson? Or the author of East of Eden, The Grapes of Wrath, and Of Mice and Men? According to Hemingway, “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn” but Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social perception.” So which is it? Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to cast your vote for one or the other. In 24 hours, at noon est. on April 1, we will have a winner.

Happy voting!

Who is your choice?

(With apologies to Flannery O’Connor, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Ernest Hemingway, Louisa May Alcott, Willa Cather, Edith Wharton, Cormac McCarthy, Larry McMurtry, Henry James, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Wendell Berry, Harper Lee, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Eudora Welty, William Faulkner, Herman Melville, Marilynne Robinson, Toni Morrison, Jack London, Ross Macdonald, Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, Ray Bradbury, Don Delillo, James Fenimore Cooper, Philip Roth, Walker Percy, Richard Wright, Wallace Stegner, JD Salinger, Raymond Carver, Saul Bellow, Vladimir Nabokov, Booth Tarkington, Stephen Crane, Washington Irving, Philip K Dick, David Foster Wallace, George Saunders, Sinclair Lewis, Ursula LeGuin, Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Octavia Butler, Kurt Vonnegut, Edgar Allen Poe, James M. Cain, John Dos Passos, Thornton Wilder, Louis L’amour, Theodore Dreiser, Alice Walker, Charles Portis, Denis Johnson, Zora Neale Hurston, EB White, Charles Brockton Brown, Patricia Highsmith, James Baldwin, Madeleine L’Engle, John Updike, Carson McCullers, Ralph Ellison, John Cheever, Zane Gray, Colson Whitehead, Jumpha Lahiri, Jonathan Franzen, James Salter, HP Lovecraft, William Gaddis, Tom Wolfe, and Jack Kerouac, who were all eliminated.)

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