Keep It Classic

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Informative. Irreverent. Readers, writers, and former teachers Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd try to define classic literature by evaluating treasured texts, their context, and their impact.

Amanda Farris & Rachael Floyd


    • Jul 12, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 19 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Keep It Classic

    Classic Adjacent: The Count of Monte Cristo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2022 18:55


    Sometimes classic literature is revenge, idea appropriation, and benevolent time travel. On this episode, we discuss The Count of Monte Cristo's presence on required reading lists and give some recommendations for books that share similar themes or elements. You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website. And we'd love for you to chat about all things lit with us over on social media at @keepitclassicpod!Here are some of the books we reference in this episode:The Cruel Prince by Holly BlackThe Guest List by Lucy FoleyThe Alice Network by Kate QuinnThe 10,000 Doors of January by Alix E. HarrowThe Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-JonesThe Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd JonesWuthering Heights by Emily BronteThe Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha ChristieBreathless by Amy McCulloughThe Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren WilligThe Lindburgh Nanny by Mariah Fredericks

    The Count of Monte Cristo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2022 22:21


    "My name is Edmond Dantes. You've ruined my life. Prepare to die." --The Count of Monte Cristo, basicallyWe're exploring Alexandre Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo!  We'll summarize, give you  a background breakdown, and discuss some big ideas! Then, of course, we'll get judgy. Will we keep it classic? Or will we trash it? You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website. And we'd love for you to chat about all things lit with us over on social media at @keepitclassicpod!Along with the requisite Wikipedia look-throughs, we also found information for this episode in the following places:The Black Count by Tom Reisshttps://www.vox.com/culture/21404224/alexandre-dumas-google-doodle-count-of-monte-cristohttps://www.mentalfloss.com/article/64861/15-things-you-might-not-know-about-count-monte-cristohttps://www.npr.org/2012/09/19/161023945/the-black-count-cuts-a-fascinating-figurehttps://bookriot.com/alexandre-dumas/

    Classic Adjacent: The Glass Menagerie

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2022 41:50


    Sometimes classic literature is cringey moms, unreliable narrators, and knickknacks. On this episode, we discuss The Glass Menagerie's presence on required reading lists and give some recommendations for books that share similar themes or elements. You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website. And we'd love for you to chat about all things lit with us over on social media at @keepitclassicpod!Here are some of the books we reference in this episode:The Grand Sophy by Georgette HeyerPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenCoraline by Neil GaimanTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeMoral Disorder by Margaret AtwoodA Curse so Dark and LonelySix of Crows by Leigh BardugoElantris by Brandon SandersonCultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda MontellBetween by L.L. StarlingGirl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women who Created Her by Melanie RehakStrange Rites by Tara Isabella BurtonThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo book by Taylor Jenkins Reid (coming to Netflix)The Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn (Netflix series as well)Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer (Hulu series as well)Station 11 by Emily St. John Mandel (HBO series as well)The Patron Saint of Second Chances by Christine SimonSea of Tranquility by Emily St. John MandelSecond-Degree Murder by Tirzah PriceHide by Kiersten White

    The Glass Menagerie

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2022 38:43


    We're exploring Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie!  We'll summarize, give you  a background breakdown, and discuss some big ideas! Then, of course, we'll get judgy. Will we keep it classic? Or will we trash it? You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website. And we'd love for you to chat about all things lit with us over on social media at @keepitclassicpod!

    Season 2 Announcement

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2022 1:40


    We're back!! We can't wait to chat about books and babies and Bravolebrities... and our general love for alliteration! Season 2 debuts on Tuesday, June 30. You can find-out more about what's coming up on the Keep It Classic website. And we'd love for you to chat about all things lit with us over on social media at @keepitclassicpod!

    The Giver: Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2021 33:38


    We promise this episode was worth the wait. We're concluding our exploration of The Giver by discussing why this book is on required reading lists, technical and literary elements of the work, its impact on literature in general, the lessons it teaches, problematic points, and our verdict. Will we keep it classic? Or will we trash it? Join Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd as they try to define classic literature.You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website.

    The Giver: Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2020 51:34


    This week, classic literature is assisted suicide, puberty, and tips on how to tell if you’re dad is a baby killer. That's right, we’re talking about The Giver by Lois Lowry.Join Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd as they explore the genre, point of view, summary, context, and history of this treasured book.You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website. And we'd love for you to chat about all things lit with us over on social media at @keepitclassicpod!

    Treasure Island: Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2020 35:53


    We promise this episode was worth the wait. We're concluding our Treasure Island series by discussing why this book is on required reading lists, technical and literary elements of the work, its impact on literature in general, the lessons it teaches, problematic points, and our verdict. Will we keep it classic? Or will we trash it? Join Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd as they try to define classic literature.You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website.This episode is a bit late because Rachael's son made an early (and much celebrated) debut into the world. She's our sound lady and is severely sleep deprived. She apologizes for any inconvenience.

    Treasure Island: Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 45:57


    This week classic literature is peg legs, buried treasure, the Black Spot, and leaving mentally unstable people marooned on an island. We are discussing Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Join Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd as they explore the genre, point of view, summary, context, and history of this treasured book.You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website. And we'd love for you to chat about all things lit with us over on social media at @keepitclassicpod!

    Island of the Blue Dolphins: Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 43:03


    We're concluding our deep-dive into Island of the Blue Dolphin by discussing why this book is on required reading lists, technical and literary elements of the work, its impact on literature in general, the lessons it teaches, problematic points, and our verdict. Will we keep it classic? Or will we trash it? Join Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd as they try to define classic literature.You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website.

    Island of the Blue Dolphins: Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2020 48:05


    This week classic literature is orphans, otters, feminism, and isolation horror. We are discussing Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. Join Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd as they explore the genre, point of view, summary, context, and history of this treasured book.You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website. And we'd love for you to chat about all things lit with us over on social media at @keepitclassicpod!

    The Crucible: Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2020 38:32


    We're concluding our deep-dive into The Crucible by discussing why this book is on required reading lists, technical and literary elements of the work, its impact on literature in general, the lessons it teaches, problematic points, and our verdict. Will we keep it classic? Or will we trash it? Join Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd as they try to define classic literature.You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website.

    The Crucible: Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2020 41:21


    This week classic literature is witchcraft, indignant righteousness, torrid Puritan affairs, and why you should never keep old dolls around your house. We're diving feet first into The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller.Join Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd as they explore the genre, point of view, summary, context, and history of this treasured book.You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website.

    Jane Eyre: Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2020 47:57


    You probably already felt this telepathically, but we're concluding our haunt through Jane Eyre by discussing why this book is on required reading lists, technical and literary elements of the work, its impact on literature in general, the lessons it teaches, problematic points, and our verdict. Will we keep it classic? Or will we trash it? Join Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd as they try to define classic literature.You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website.

    Jane Eyre: Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2020 68:21


    This week, classic literature is orphans, plain governesses, broody gentlemen, syphilitic wives in the attic, and wandering the moors. It’s Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, y’all.Join Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd as they explore the genre, point of view, summary, context, and history of this treasured book.You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website.

    Anne of Green Gables Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2020 22:24


    We're completing our journey (for now!) through our Anne of Green Gables series by discussing why this book is on required reading lists, technical and literary elements of the work, its impact on literature in general, the lessons it teaches, problematic points, and our verdict. Will we keep it classic? Or will we trash it? Join Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd as they try to define classic literature.You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website.

    Anne of Green Gables: Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2020 33:24


    This week, classic literature is orphans, adoption, kindred spirits, and accidentally getting your bff drunk on currant wine. That’s right. We’re discussing Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery.Join Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd as they explore the genre, point of view, summary, context, and history of this treasured book.You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website.

    The Great Gatsby: Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 47:02


    We're following up part one of The Great Gatsby series by discussing why this book is on required reading lists, technical and literary elements of the work, its impact on literature in general, the lessons it teaches, problematic points, and our verdict. Will we keep it classic? Or will we trash it? Join Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd as they try to define classic literature.You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website.

    The Great Gatsby: Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2020 55:45


    This week, classic literature is enigmatic millionaires, the roaring twenties, the green light, and running over your husband’s mistress with your car. Yep. It’s The Great Gatsby by F. Scott. Fitzgerald.Join Amanda Farris and Rachael Floyd as they explore the genre, point of view, summary, context, and history of this required reading frequent flyer. You can find extensive show notes on the Keep It Classic website.

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