Didion, Hawthorne, and the In-Between

Today we launch a new series, Daily Endeavors. The series undertakes a deep dive into the daily life of a PhD student in linguistics. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Welcome back! Today MacKenzie discusses essential tools and components to success during a PhD. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

This week we have an announcement on the show: We will change our format to produce one longer, more formal episode per month. Look out for our next episode on Natalia Ginzburg's "Family Lexicon" on 13 September.

Today MacKenzie discusses her thoughts on the various organizational systems she has kept throughout the last several years. Her impetus for this episode was the book "Hyperfocus" by Chris Bailey. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

MacKenzie discusses a topic near and dear to her reading system: finishing every book she reads. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

MacKenzie reviews her book podcast style with another favorite episode from the back catalogue, episode 166 on "Garden by the Sea" by Mercè Rodoreda. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

How do you plan for peace, rather than productivity? Mackenzie discusses her journey with productivity over the past nine months as it relates to reading on this episode. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

How does an investigation of language science change one's approach to language learning? What is the classical language learning model, and how did it develop? What strategies work (and not so much) to learn a new language? All these questions and more on today's show, hosted by phoneticist Mackenzie Gentz. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

What would you do if you found yourself in a woman-sized hole? In the first book review since her return to the show, MacKenzie discusses societal pressures and magical realism in reference to the contemporary, prize-winning novella "The Hole" by Hiroko Oyamada. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Would you be willing to try an experiment with us? This week, Mackenzie picks one of her all-time favorite episodes to re-hear in an effort to reconstruct her thoughts on what makes a good literature review. I hope you all enjoy this episode as much as she did. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

How do you explore a new book genre? Mackenzie walks through several practical tips on how to brave a new genre. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Why do people always say they "don't have time to read"? MacKenzie discusses her own experience with this phrase and what she thinks rests behind it in common discourse. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

How do you decide what to read next? Do you have a reading list you (arbitrarily) use? If so, do you choose books for your current stage in your reading journey, or for your ideal reader? In this fifth episode back from our break, Mackenzie discusses how to circumvent problematic ideals when it comes to what to read next. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

What is the nonfiction scene like these days? Today Mackenzie delves into four categories of contemporary nonfiction she reads and loves: biology/natural sciences, essay collections, books about writing, and psychology. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

How do you speed read—and read slowly? This week, Mackenzie explores different reading modes, whether they be ultra-fast and word-count dependent or slow and deliberate. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

How do you read a book every week? In this episode, Mackenzie details her self-developed method of "book stacking", that is, a process for intentionally reading multiple books at a time. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Mackenzie makes her return with a discussion of her "whys" behind podcasting and literature. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Mackenzie takes a personal look at her reading habits from the past few years and sets systems for the new year. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

MacKenzie reviews the third book by one of her all-time favorite living authors: "The Force of Such Beauty" by Barbara Bourland. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

After Mackenzie's second F451 read, she had to review it on the show. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

One of the most gruesome books we have reviewed on the show, Stephen King's "Holly" is not for the faint of heart! — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Today we are rehashing one of Mackenzie's favorite episodes: "Fake Like Me" by Barbara Bourland. Enjoy! — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Today we review the last six years of Horrifying Classics podcast episodes. Enjoy! — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Episode six of six in our series on William Faulkner's short detective fiction. What do you know about chess and wild horses? — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Episode five of six in our series on William Faulkner's short detective fiction. Do you know how to make a cold toddy? — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Today we review the sequel to last week's two novels, "Hear the Wind Sing" and "Pinball, 1973" by Haruki Murakami. "The Wild Sheep Chase" is the final book in the Trilogy of the Rat. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

We review Murakami's start to writing with his first two novellas, "Hear the Wind Sing" (1979) and "Pinball, 1973" (1980). Enjoy! — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Today we discuss the short story "Tomorrow" by William Faulkner, as well as its film adaptation. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Mackenzie discusses her reading track record for the first two thirds of the year. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Our third short story from the fantastically-"de-edited" short story collection "Knight's Gambit" by William Faulkner. Fact check: This short story was originally published in 1939 in The Saturday Evening Post, not in 1949 with the collection. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

What does it mean to be obedient to God?

It is difficult to do justice to this perceptive and poignant read by 23-year-old Carson McCullers. Nonetheless, what a necessary addition it is to our show catalogue! — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

It's time to discuss Lily Bart and her decline from upper-class society in the 19th Century. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Mackenzie delves into a little-discussed reading strategy: speed reading. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Today Mack and John discuss the book of Jonah. How mature is Jonah, and why does that matter? Is Jonah's story relatable? How are we called to follow God?  

MacKenzie discusses her fountain pen hobby in a long-form conversation on the show. Enjoy! — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Mackenzie discusses her newfound daily use of the kindle in the sixth(!!) kindle episode we've published on the podcast. Note: We reposed this episode after an upload failure. Thank you for your patience! — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ etsy.com/shop/theelaineedit patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Mackenzie dives into the world of William Faulkner's detective fiction in a mini-series on "Knight's Gambit" by William Faulkner, edited by John N. Duvall. The second story in the collection, "Monk," is weighty with its themes of victimization and corruption. Let's read. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Mackenzie reviews the long-awaited "Martin Chuzzlewit" by Charles Dickens. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ patreon.com/relevanceofliterature etsy.com/shop/TheElaineEdit — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

My first time reading "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë. Let's discuss! — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Mackenzie dives into the world of William Faulkner's detective fiction in a mini-series on "Knight's Gambit" by William Faulkner, edited by John N. Duvall. The first story in the collection, "Smoke," is the epitome of Faulkner's fictional world. Let's explore! — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Abram and Lot—let's discuss.

Mackenzie continues to review German-language books with a very popular title, "Tschick." — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Mackenzie discusses Murakami's latest (autobiographical!) work in relation to other books in his oeuvre. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Is there any deeper meaning to the Tower of Babel?

Mackenzie discusses where her last 6 months of terrible reading choices have led her and what she did to turn her reading around. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

Mack & John discuss the rest of Noah's ark and the rainbow as a symbol.

Mackenzie shares what she has read in 2023 and her strategy for the 2023 52 books/year challenge. Our apologies for the microphone issues and Mackenzie's cold. We, too, learn with each new published podcast. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net

John & Mack are back: They discuss more of Noah, plus the back of the U.S. dollar bill.

A review of Bourland's thriller-satire from 2017. Mackenzie discusses character, the fashion industry, and other thriller-genre novels. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net  

Mackenzie shares a vlog-style podcast of how, when, and how frequently she studies Czech every day. — Show Notes: relevanceofliterature.com/notes/ patreon.com/relevanceofliterature — Music by Leo Discenza Our Show: relevanceofliterature.com Our old (and yes, still functioning) blog: didionandhawthorne.blubrry.net