Big Book Club's "What the Whale!"

Looking for a challenge? Always wanted to read Russian literature, but never had time? Like talking about books with other people? You are invited to join us in reading the very big book, "War and Peace" with us this summer! We'll read approximately 100 pages each week, talk about it online, cheer each other on when the Russian aristocrats drive us bonkers, and celebrate our survival of 1400 pages of Tolstoy at the end of the summer. Reading of "War and Peace" begins on June 2. Learn more, and register to join in, on the Library website.

So many references, we thought we ought to Librarian them for you... Third Eye Blind's song "Narcolepsy," verse 3: “I read dead Russian authors, volumes at a time/I write everything down except what’s on my mind” War - Edwin Starr (Original Vinyl) Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 - a "Sung through musical adaptation of a 70 page segment from Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace" Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Napoleon Dynamite - A listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home. Seinfeld, Season 5, episode 14: The Marine Biologist - "While having a conversation with Elaine about his favorite yellow T-shirt, "Golden Boy" (which, due to its age, is "dying"), Jerry tells her the novel War and Peace was originally called War, What is it Good For?"  

This week's references include: Pete's man purse Possible gadgets and accessories to make reading in bed easier. Crazy Rich Asians, by Kevin Kwan Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale of Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends Our palate cleansers: Megan - All the Marvel movies, but Age of Ultron most recently (and she loves Don Cheadle's portrayal of War Machine) Jennie - High Risers: Cabrini Green and the Fate of American Public Housing Pete - Leviathan Wakes, the first book in the series that the tv show The Expanse is based on  

This week's references include: Thigh of Frightened Nymph apparently is still a color used to describe real things. The Super Luxe History of Pineapples from Mentalfloss Pineapple socks Our palette cleansers - Jennie - Watched "The Americans" finale, and was enjoying this "Who Said It: Philip and Elizabeth From The Americans or Philip and Elizabeth From The Crown?" quiz. Pete - Learning to do Burpees and Plankjacks at the gym, although he's not convinced they're real exercises. Megan - Continued her Avengers marathon with "Ant-Man," and has been knitting.  

(This week we had some technical difficulties, so it sounds like we're recording from the bottom of a well. We apologize for any problems this may cause you in listening to the episode - we should be back to normal by next week!) This week's references include: Shmoop.com - "Picture yourself as a writer in the middle of the 19th century. You’re wearing wool underwear (cause you can’t really afford the nice silk ones), sitting in your dark little room, the candlelight is flickering (still waiting on that Thomas Edison guy), and you’re holding a quill pen in your hand thinking about the blank page in front of you. Mostly, though, you’re really, really stressed out." Summer Reading Ted Ed videos and more on Napoleon: Why should you read Tolstoy's "War and Peace"? - Brendan Pelsue Ten Minute History - The French Revolution and Napoleon (Short Documentary) Where did Russia come from? - Alex Gendler Palate cleansers: Pete - Dragon Age Inquisition on PS4 Megan - "Text Me When You Get Home" Jennie - "America for Beginners" - Look for the next Win a Book Wednesday on June 27 "I carried a watermelon."

  Do you have feedback you want to share with us about The Big Book Club? We want to hear it! Email us at libraries@arlingtonva.us.   This week's references include: Uruk hai - From the Lord of the Rings, the strongest species of Orc in Middle-earth (bad guys) Stolen by the Duke - There is no Regency romance by this name! There is a "Stolen by My Knave"... Air Jordans - a brand of basketball footwear and athletic clothing produced by Nike, created for former professional basketball player Michael Jordan.  "Tolstoy: A Russian Life" - Tolstoy's Biography Napoleon and Wellington - BBC Radio 4: In Our Time Emancipation Manifesto, (March 3 [Feb. 19, Old Style], 1861) - manifesto issued by the Russian emperor Alexander II that accompanied 17 legislative acts that freed the serfs of the Russian Empire. (The acts were collectively called Statutes Concerning Peasants Leaving Serf Dependence, or Polozheniya o Krestyanakh Vykhodyashchikh iz Krepostnoy Zavisimosty.) Palate cleansers: Megan - True Blood tv show / Sookie Stackhouse books "His Majesty's Dragon" by Naomi Novik - Temeraire Series, Book 1 Pete - Legion - tv show on FX "It's a banana." Napoleon: Power and Splendor - Exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

This week's especially silly references include:  From War and Peace fanfic.net - War and Peace (and Vampires) Regrets - A story about Sonya and Dolokhov, the ship that never did quite sail. War and Peace on Archive of Our Own - a different fanfiction website. Be aware that there are separate categories for the book, the 2016 BBC miniseries, and the musical, and that they don't always overlap. Sound of Music fanfic, "Older and Wiser" Palate cleansers Megan - True Blood, the tv show Pete - In honor of Pete's Red Sox tickets: new book "Tom Yawkey: patriarch of the Boston Red Sox" Jennie - Poprocket popdcast recommendation "Halt and Catch Fire" on Netflix Bonkers is the word of the summer.  

This week's references include: Good Morning Vietnam! - a 1987 American comedy-drama war film. Set in Saigon in 1965, during the Vietnam War, the film stars Robin Williams as a radio DJ on Armed Forces Radio Service, who proves hugely popular with the troops, but infuriates his superiors with what they call his "irreverent tendency". The story is loosely based on the experiences of AFRS radio DJ Adrian Cronauer. Books in the Library collection about the history of Freemasons include: The Square and the Tower: networks and power, from the Freemasons to Facebook Freemasons: a history and exploration of the world's oldest secret society The Freemasons: Unlocking the 1000-Year-Old Mysteries of the Brotherhood: the Masonic rituals, codes, signs and symbols explained with over 200 photographs and illustrations Mozart's "The Magic Flute" National Treasure movies and Dan Brown novels Schoolhouse Rock - Lolly Lolly Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here Palate cleansers Pete - Ant Man and the Wasp Megan - Spider-man: Homecoming and Sweetbitter on STARZ, based on the novel "Sweetbitter" by Stephanie Danler Jennie - "Heroine's Journey" by Sarah Kuhn and the This Day in History Class podcast  

This week's episode guest produced and engineered by Pete. References! The opening ceremony of the Sochi Olympics - Russian commentary on this video seems to indicate that the ballet dancing is based on War and Peace, making it extra appropriate. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts exhibit: Napoleon: Power and Splendor Manic Pixie Dream Girls - Did Natasha establish this recurring character type? Or is it even older? The Homer Simpson/Honeymooners archetype of oafish husbands paired with attractive wives. Shade thrown at Pierre includes: "You're ruining my childhood" "Doesn't think women should be video game designers" "Has strong feelings about the new Star Wars movies" Shade listing is not comprehensive, but only because we couldn't find a safe-for-work description of fedora as an insult... That finger snap, though - One of the most iconic moments in comic book (and now cinema) history Palate cleansers Die Hard (Totally a Christmas movie. Sorry, Bruce.) Ina Garten’s Meatloaf Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol Caliban's War by James S.A. Corey. Pete did not like Luke Cage Season 2 on Netflix, so here's Cage!, written by Genndy Tartakovsky instead.  

This week's references include: Tanic Acid as a clotting agent, or, Stop Bleeding, Heal Wounds, and Soothe Sunburns with a Tea Bag All kind of Scrying explained Mary Poppins carousel and fox hunt scene, and penguin dance scene. Palate cleansers: Megan - "American Panda" by Gloria Chao and "When Katie Met Cassidy" by Camille Perri Jennie - Parks and Recreation tv show  

A note about the sound - We had to record in a different room this week, which resulted in some funny acoustics and weird occasional noises. And Alex is getting over a cold, so there is occasional coughing... This week's references include: J-Lo's green Grammy dress Brief histories of Russian Ballet and Russian Opera from wikipedia Smokey and the Bandit (it's not really Smokey and the Bandit) Palate cleansers - Pete - Cowboy Bebop tv show Megan - Unreal tv show and "Spinning Silver" by Naomi Novik

This week's episode, guest engineered by Pete, covers: plotty-plots, humans humaning, and the contrast between the philosophical aspects of the novel and the character growth.  References this episode: What is snuff? According to Encyclopedia Britannica, it's a form of powdered preparation of tobacco used by inhalation or by dipping that became widespread in the 18th century. Winter is coming - The tagline from the television show Game of Thrones, based on A Song of Fire and Ice. The Butterfly Effect - A concept where a small change in one place can create a big change elsewhere. Also a 2004 movie (Not, as Pete states, a documentary.) Palate cleansers - Megan - The film Back to the Future Jennie - James (the rock band) Pete - The film The Dark Knight

Alex is back from Vermont and the gang's all together again! This week we tackle Pierre's near fatal observance of the Battle of Boradino, Tolstoy's retconning of relationships and deepening of his themes, why the serfs wouldn't let Marya leave her estate, and Andrei's dangerous bitey emotions. References include: "You're going to make it after all..." - Mary Tyler Moore opening The Chandelier Napoleon Gifted to Josephine - scene from the film "What a Girl Wants" "Abridged Classics: Brief Summaries of Books You Were Supposed to Read but Probably Didn't" by John Atkinson   Palate cleansers: Megan - "So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y'all Don't Even Know" - Retta's Memoir Pete - "Hawkeye: Vol. 1 - My Life as a Weapon" by Matt Fraction and David Aja Jennie also recommends - "Patsy Walker, a.k.a. Hellcat!: Vol. 1, Hooked on a Feline" and "Hawkeye: Kate Bishop: Vol. 1, Anchor Points"  

Which moments have been Pierre's worst? Is Tolstoy an unreliable narrator? Jennie heralds Gossip Girl's value in raising lexile levels! And Alex insists that what the 1812 Moscow fire really needs is zombies. This week's references include: Joseph Joffre, commander in chief of the French forces on the Western front during the initial stages of WW1, who, insisted on sticking to his usual schedule, even during battle. Pete learned about him in Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast episode, Blueprint for Armageddon 1 "Gossip Girl" by Cecily Von Zeigesar   Palate cleansers Megan is reading "Many Love" by Sophie Lucido Johnson, "The Clothes Make the Girl (Look Fat)?" by Brittany Gibbons, "Educated: a Memoir" by Tara Westover, and is watching Bored to Death. Pete is watching Disenchantment Jennie is watching early seasons of The Simpsons and is looking forward to reading Tessa Dare's new book, "The Governess Game." Alex is reading "Jell-O Girls" by Allie Rowbottom and "A Duke by Default" by Alyssa Cole.  

  This week's references include: Waterloo - the upcoming battle in 1815, and the song by ABBA We think Tolstoy would have liked ABBA's fatalism... At Waterloo Napoleon did surrender Oh yeah And I have met my destiny in quite a similar way The history book on the shelf Is always repeating itself Waterloo I was defeated, you won the war Waterloo promise to love you for ever more Waterloo couldn't escape if I wanted to Waterloo knowing my fate is to be with you Waterloo finally facing my Waterloo 1812 Overture - written in 1880 by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to commemorate Russia's defense of its fatherland against Napoleon's invasion in 1812. The overture debuted in Moscow on August 20, 1882, conducted by Ippolit Al'tani under a tent near the then-unfinished Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, which also memorialized the 1812 defense of Russia. Closer to the Apothecary than God:  Abortion in 17th Century England - What do we know about abortion in 18th century Russia? Not a lot, but thanks to this research, we do know that English apothecary shops carried books with recipes containing abortifacients available in domestic settings. Random pop culture references: Evil Dead (Horror Movie, 1981) Get Smart (TV Show, 1965-68) Dragnet (Radio and TV Show, 1951-1970)   Palate cleansers Jennie - "Rich People Problems" by Kevin Kwan Megan - Binge Mode podcast Pete - Theodore Roosevelt Island

  Important Announcements! Vote now for the Big Book Club's Winter 2018/2019 book! The poll will remain open until the end of October. The War and Peace Survivors Party is scheduled for Sunday, September 30, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. We hope to see you there! RSVP if you think you can make it, so we know how many snacks to provide.   Palate Cleansers Megan - "My Life as a Goddess" - by Guy Branum Pete - "The Everything Box" by Richard Kadrey and "Room to Dream" by David Lynch Alex - "Sophia" Russian tv show, available on Amazon Prime  

In which we try to figure out how we feel about "War and Peace" and why Tolstoy has such staying power. And Jennie sings ALL the songs. The Chinese proverb Jennie refers to is often translated as either: "Heaven is high and the emperor is far away" or "The mountains are high and the emperor is far away" (which the Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs actually compares to the Russian proverb "God is high above and the tsar is far away"). Kim Pine in "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (also check out the graphic novels) Bridget Jones's Diary - Smug Marrieds   Palate cleansers - Megan - Harry Potter series, Anne of Green Gables series, and "Sierra Burgess is a Loser" on Netflix Jennie - reading the Cybils Award contenders, and "Making It" on Hulu Pete - playing video games: Donut County, Spider Man and Red Dead Redemption 2    

Our Mission To tackle reading the fairly big book, "Middlemarch" while talking about it online (and cheering each other on when necessary). How to Participate Register now! Start reading by January 7 Read approximately 100 pages each week (see reading schedule) Chat online about the book Meetup in person during our two off weeks - if you want Finish "Middlemarch" by the middle of March... Chat About the Book Online Twitter - Vent or swoon throughout the week (depending on how you're feeling) using the #IdesOfMiddlemarch hashtag. Goodreads Group - Join us Sunday nights in the Ides of Middlemarch Group to chat with your librarian hosts and fellow readers: Jennie, Megan, Pete, and Alex. Listen to this Podcast - Download our mostly-weekly Ides of Middlemarch wrap-up. Librarians Jennie, Megan, Pete and special guests will discuss the reading and ask or answer questions that come up during the Sunday discussion.

A Big Book Club mini episode: A Rogue by Any Other Name vs. The Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy. It's the first in a new series of mini episodes about reading outside our comfort zones! Pete challenged Megan to read his very favorite book, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," by Douglas Adams... Megan challenged Pete to read one of her favorite beloved romances, "A Rogue by Any Other Name," by Sarah MacLean... Will prides be humbled? Will prejudices be confronted? Will there be lots of laughing? Listen to find out!   (The other Sarah MacLean series for which Jennie and Megan can't remember the name of the books is Love By Numbers.)

Welcome back to the Big Book Club! In our introductory episode of Season 2, Jennie, Megan and Pete chat about the reading schedule for "Middlemarch" and the discussion format of this season's Big Book Club: We're reading for 3 weeks, and then taking a week off to catch up (and repeat) We're hosting 2 in person chats in the off weeks, for people who don't like online discussion We're holding the online discussion on Goodreads. It's a closed group, so if you haven't asked to join yet, do so before 8 p.m. on Sunday, if you want to take part in the conversation about chapters 1-9. We also share our feelings about introductory sentences, wonder what the prologue means, Megan schools us on how much of a badass George Eliot was (especially for a Victorian lady), and Alex makes big pronouncements about "Wuthering Heights." And of course we share our palate cleansers: Jennie - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, season 2 Pete - MAGFEST - the Music and Gaming Festival - and Super Art Fight - "The greatest live art competition in the known universe" Megan - Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 1 Alex - "The Devouring: a Billy Boyle World War II Mystery" by James R. Benn  

We recorded this week's podcast a day late due to a snowstorm, but nothing could stop our first Sunday night group discussion on Goodreads! Today we got to Tuesday-morning quarterback the discussion. Shownotes - Shmoop.com is an education website aimed at students. The introduction and character analysis sections on Middlemarch are especially helpful, and entertaining. Any time you get behind in the reading, check out the Shmoop.com chapter summary of Middlemarch. Palette cleansers - Pete - Oh Brother Where Art Thou Jennie - Brooklyn 99 Megan - Tidying Up With Marie Kondo (TV show) and "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo  

What Makes a Book "Big"? We thought that because "Middlemarch" only weighs in at the 700-800 page range (compared to the 1200+ pages of "War and Peace"), there would somehow be less characters and relationships to keep track of... We were wrong. Luckily, other intrepid readers have come before us! Charles found and shared this hand drawn "Relationship Map of Middlemarch" posted by someone named Nickelini, on Photobucket.   This week's Palate cleansers - Pete - "The Library Book" by Susan Orlean, who will be at Central Library on February 20 for Arlington Reads. Megan - Mormom and the Meth-Head podcast Alex - "Lethal White" by Robert Galbraith

In which we have many feelings, especially about the importance of good footnotes and endnotes, as well as our disappointment in Fred, Lydgate, Mr. Garth and Casaubon. This week's references include: Folger Shakespeare Library Editions and "The Annotated Alice: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll, with added commentary by Martin Gardner and Mark Burstein. Palate cleansers: Megan - Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (Netflix) Pete - Red Dead Redemption 2 (official gameplay video)    

A Big Book Club mini episode about Marie Kondo and what she actually said. While recording our January 15 "Ides of Middlemarch" episode, Megan's palate cleansers included the Netflix show, "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo." Pete mentioned a rumor that's been floating around social media about what Marie Kondo says about books.... and Jennie had a lot to say in order to set the record straight about "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing."  

This week we were joined by Gale, our first guest host. We had a great discussion covering lustful eyes, the invention of stethoscopes, Edith Wharton, reform bills and more. Shownotes: Gale mentions authors Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, Edith Wharton and William Makepeace Thackeray ("Vanity Fair") as favorites. The stethoscope was invented in France in 1816 by René Laennec, so Lydgate's stethoscope would have been a relatively new tool - from Wikipedia. The Reform Bill of 1832 (the first of 4) primarily served to transfer voting privileges from the small boroughs controlled by the nobility and gentry to the heavily populated industrial towns. - from Encyclopaedia Britannica Vicars and Curate and Livings, Oh My! - and explanation of how "livings" work for the clergy, the relationship between vicars and curates, and what their duties actually were. - from the blog English Historical Fiction Authors Edith Wharton references: "The Age of Innocence" film "The Buccaneers"  - About five wealthy American girls denied entry into New York Society because their parents' money is too new. At the suggestion of their clever governess, the girls sail to London, where they marry lords, earls, and dukes who find their beauty charming—and their wealth extremely useful. "The Custom and the Country"   Palate cleansers Megan - "I Owe You One" by Sophie Kinsella Pete - "Make Your Bed: little things that can change your life... and maybe the world" by William H McRaven Gale - True Detective season 3 Alex - Marvel's Runaways

This week we were joined by guest host Brit, who loves Halloween and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. We discussed: 19 Old Fashioned Compliments We Should Bring Back - Bustle The origins of Whig and Tory - The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica The London Corresponding Society and the Treasonable Practices Act and the Seditious Meetings Act of 1795 - the English Historical Fiction Authors blog Palate cleansers: Brit - "Wyrd Sisters: Discworld book 6" by Terry Pratchet Pete - The Umbrella Academy on Netflix based on the graphic novel "The Umbrella Academy" by Gerard Way Megan - "New Erotica for Feminists" and "Always Never Yours" Alex - Alyssa Cole's Reluctant Royals novels and the 2008 film Penelope          

This week we were joined by guest host Vicky, who loves dogs (she has 3) and books. We discussed: The 1834 Poor Law, which ensured that the poor were housed in workhouses, clothed and fed. Children who entered the workhouse would receive some schooling. In return for this care, all workhouse paupers would have to work for several hours each day. - UK National Archives Italians with white mice - In the 1820s/1830s Italian men were wandering the streets of London & other cities as organ grinders, accompanied by boys with trained monkeys and mice who performed tricks. - Literature Network Forums Palate cleansers: Vicky - "Joe Gould's Teeth" by Jill Leopore Megan - Black Klansman film and the book "Black Klansman: race, hate, and the undercover investigation of a lifetime" by Ron Stallworth; "Sociable: a Novel" by Rebecca Harrington; "Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women's Anger" by Soraya Chemaly Pete - "Black Leopard Red Wolf" by Marlon James Alex - is between books and was bereft of anything to share this week, but will come back next time having found lots of new things to read.  

A Big Book Club mini episode about Arlington Reads Signature Author Susan Orlean's "The Library Book." References include: Susan Orlean appeared on episode 158 of the Lady Lady podcast "Adaptation," based on Susan Orlean's "The Orchid Thief" "Life's Swell" - Susan Orlean's 1998 article about girls surfing in Maui is now available from Outsideonline.com. The article was the basis for the film "Blue Crush." Films about young women pursuing their dream sport: Blue Crush (2002) - surfing Bend it Like Beckham (2002) - soccer Whip It (2009) - roller derby A History of the American Public Library - created for CityLab by Ariel Aberg-Riger Women's Work online exhibit, section on Arlington Libraries - from the Center for Local History at the Arlington Public Library        

This week we were joined by guest host Elisia, who loves fountain pens and board games. This week's notes include: Pi Day, celebrated on March 14, which corresponds with 3.14 The Ides of March is a day on the Roman calendar that corresponds to 15 March. The Romans did not number days of a month from the first to the last day. Instead, they counted back from three fixed points of the month: the Nones (5th or 7th, depending on the length of the month), the Ides (13th or 15th), and the Kalends (1st of the following month). The Ides occurred near the midpoint, on the 13th for most months, but on the 15th for March, May, July, and October. The Ides were supposed to be determined by the full moon, reflecting the lunar origin of the Roman calendar. On the earliest calendar, the Ides of March would have been the first full moon of the new year. Palate cleansers - Pete - Captain Marvel and More reading list Elisia - "Binti" by Nnedi Okorafor Alex - "The Sun is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon and "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi    

This week we were joined by return-guest host Gale, who we happened to find out loves horror books and films. Palate cleansers - Gale - "In a Dark, Dark Wood" by Ruth Ware Pete - "Chamber Music: Wu-Tang and America (in 36 pieces)" by Will Ashon Gale - "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster Alex - "Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit" by Amy Stewart  

For our final week of Middlemarch we were joined by guest host Heather, who loves soup with pasta, baseball of all kinds, as well as the work of Charles Dickens. Missing Middlemarch? We have a book list for you! Thanks to Gale for getting it started. Things we plan to read after Middlemarch: Heather - Ron Chernow's biography of "Grant and Mark Z. Danielewski's "House of Leaves" Megan - "The Royal Runaway" by Lindsay Emory Pete - Is all Avengers Endgame all the time  

We're ready to set sail with plenty of whale puns... Don't have your book yet? The Library has unlimited copies in eBook and eAudiobook. Or you could listen to the Moby-Dick Big Read podcast produced by the Arts Institute at the University of Plymouth. And don't forget to join the What the Whale! Facebook group before Sunday night's online discussion at 8 p.m.   Palate cleansers: Jennie - "Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland" by Patrick Radden Keefe Pete - "Emergency Contact" by Mary H. K. Choi Megan - "Bookish Boyfriends: A Date with Darcy" by Tiffany Schmidt Alex - "Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps that Explain Everything About the World" by Tim Marshall  

This week we realize that running off to sea and adopting a nome-de-mer is usually a sign that you're trying to escape from something... PSA: You can learn pirate in the Mango Languages app, free with your library card. Palate cleansers: Megan - Lore Olympus web comic Pete - "Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett Jennie - "Comrade Detective" comedy TV show on Amazon Prime and "Chuck Norris vs. Communism" documentary Alex - "Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster" by Svetlana Aleksievich

180 pages in, and we've barely left port... This week we discussed knowing that we're reading a "Big Book," and therefore expecting more drama out of Ahab as character. We also wondered whether, if we'd read Moby-Dick when it first was published, would we have been bored out of our minds by this point? Books we reference: "A History of the World in Six Glasses" by Tom Standage "Banana: the Fate of the Fruit that Changed the World" by Dan Koeppel Palate cleansers: Megan - "Educated: A Memoir" by Tara Westover Pete - Watched the film "Burning" based on the Haruki Murakami short story "Barn Burning," which is based on the William Faulkner short story "Barn Burning." Jennie - This Land podcast and Galavant TV show Alex - Apollo 11: Beyond the Moon podcast and the Apollo 11 documentary film  

Who got the gold star for reading all about whale-fish, including the footnotes? Who is actually caught up on the reading? Who thinks Ahab is headed for a reconning of, well, mythic proportions? And who is ready to read something completely different this week? We referenced: "I''ll Make a Man Out of You" from the Disney musical, Mulan. On the tv show Friends, couple Ross and Rachel "take a break," and then have a fight about what it meant to "take a break" after Ross slept with another woman during the break. Palate cleansers Megan - "Queenie" by Candice Carty-Williams and "Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors: a novel" by Sonali Dev Pete - "Convenience Store Woman" by Sayaka Murata Jennie - "I Love You So Mochi" by Sarah Kuhn and "Dear Los Angeles: the city in diaries and letters 1542 to 2018" edited by David Kipen Alex - "Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating" by Christina Lauren      

In discussing chapters 42-59, we mentioned  "The Card Turner," a YA novel by Louis Sachar. Also, giant squid are scary, Fedallah's whaleboat crew are eerie, and and Melville is not subtle. Palate cleansers: Jennie - "Ayesha At Last" by Uzma Jalaluddin and "The Lady and the Highwayman" by Sarah M. Eden Alex - "Storm of Locusts" by Rebecca Roanhorse Pete - "Bukowski in a Sundress: Confessions From a Writing Life" by Kim Addonizio    

This week we tackled the most action packed reading yet, chapters 60-70, in which we encountered bloody whale killing, racial stereotyping, and ugly power structures. Palate cleansers: Megan - "Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nuter, Witch" by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman Jennie - "Sixth The Musical" Alex - "Somewhere Only We Know" by Maureen Goo Pete - "The Pandemic Century: One Hundred Years of Panic, Hysteria, and Hubris" by Mark Honigsbaum and  "Circe" by Madeline Miller

In chapters 71-86, no amount of action could keep us from feeling sedated by the seemingly endless chapters on phrenology... Although maybe all of Moby-Dick would improve if read like a jazz poem? Chapter 79: The Prairie - read like an experimental jazz poem by the Mob-Dick Big Read project Before Dave Malloy's new musical Moby-Dick makes its world premiere at the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University in December, the American Museum of Natural History will present staged excerpts from the production. "Ahab’s Rolling Sea: A Natural History of Moby-Dick" by Richard J. King - publication date October 2019 Palate cleansers - Jennie - "Cinnamon and Gunpowder: a Novel" by Eli Brown Pete - "Midsommar" (Still in theaters) and "Hereditary" Megan - Moonrise - The Washington Post’s podcast on the history of the space race, and "Packing for Mars: the Curious Science of Life in the Void" by Mary Roach Alex - "Breach" by W.L. Goodwater and the BMA exhibit "Hitching Their Dreams to Untamed Stars: Joyce J. Scott & Elizabeth Talford Scott"  Sparknotes on Instagram and Twitter

This week, half of Arlington is on vacation, so Jennie and Pete set sail on their own. The two cover chapters 87-101, discussing the unpleasant topics (racism, whale slaughter) and the absurd (Stubb's nose, the ineptness of whale ship captains.) And with no co-hosts, there's no one to stop them from making references to The Simpsons but also no one to correct Pete when he calls whale bone "ivory" repeatedly.  Get Well Soon by Jennifer Wright Palate cleansers -  Jennie - Derry Girls on Netflix Lore Olympus Pete - The Terror on Hulu (though based on a book)

The gang's all back in town again! In this week's discussion of chapters 102-121, we contemplate biblical history and prophecy, and Megan solves the meaning of Moby-Dick once again. Want to listen to an early version of The Pacific, from the Moby-Dick musical? Visit Dave Malloy's website. Read a review of the Moby-Dick performance Megan attended. Palate cleansers- Jennie - Derry Girls on Netflix Pete - 16 Bit Bar and Arcade (sadly, not local) Megan - "Say Nothing: a true story of murder and memory in Northern Ireland" by Patrick Radden Keefe Alex - "A Reaper at the Gates" by Sabaa Tahir    

And so we come to the conclusion of our voyage... was the destination worth the ride? Opinions vary... Palate cleansers: Pete - "What We Do In The Shadows" - available on DVD Jennie - "The Business of Bees" from Bloomberg Podcasts and "Blown Away" glassblowing show Megan - "Cover-Up" podcast from People, "The Drop Out" podcast from ABC Radio, and "Hot Dog Girl" by Jennifer Dugan Alex - "Ghost Map: the story of London's deadliest epidemic-- and how it changed science, cities, and the modern world"

As a special post-Moby-Dick bonus, Jennie and Megan previewed the new book, "Ahab's Rolling Sea: A Natural History of Moby-Dick," and interviewed author Richard King by phone from his home in Mystic, Connecticut. Rich's book does a great job of putting Moby-Dick in context, with lots of maps and photos. And for anyone who might fear that King's style would take after his subject matter, the writing is is compelling and accessible, and we suspect that it may become required reading for anyone tackling Moby-Dick in the future... Rich mentions the website "Melville's Marginalia" during the podcast. Palate cleansers: Rich - "Fortunate Son" by Walter Mosley Jennie - Gavin & Stacey - British tv show, watching on Hulu Megan - "Three Women" by Lisa Tadeo

We're starting a new adventure, a monthly Big Book Club Podcast... http://bigbookclubarlington.libsyn.com/