Reading, poorly

A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh - Chapter 9 | The weather in the Wood takes a nasty turn, and I discuss boats.

A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh - Chapter 8 | Christopher Robin recruits and leads a large Expedition of explorers, and I recall a very important question no one knows.

A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh - Chapter 7 | The Wood gets new neighbors, and I peer through the book's fourth wall.

A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh - Chapter 6 | Pooh and friends celebrate Eeyore's birthday, and I attempt to pronounce...well, something.

A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh - Chapter 5 | Pooh and Piglet set a trap, and I recall a voice.

A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh - Chapter 4 | Pooh undertakes a fetch quest, and I recall seeing this story before.

A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh - Chapter 3 | We learn the pedigree of one of Pooh's friends, and I discuss cases.

A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh - Chapter 2 | Pooh calls on a friend and ends up staying longer than expected. I recall Greek myth.

A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh - Chapter 1 | We start a new book! I'm glad to read something lighter. We begin with Pooh feeling a bit peckish.

Clement Clarke Moore's A Visit from St. Nicholas | To paraphrase the Facebook page of the podcast "Welcome to Night Vale": An agile old man crawls into a home to judge its children. I'm feeling refreshed after a break!

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 22 | In our final chapter (if not the final episode), we learn of Northup's journey back home. I recall...Tim Curry? Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 21 | We learn about how busy some folks have been in the last few months, and why they had to be so busy. I stumble on dialog, words, and complicated feelings...as usual. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 20 | Solomon gets some bittersweet news, and I break into a cappella...well, *discussion* of it anyway. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven (again) | We revisit our friend to see if that pesky bird is still around, and I just can't get some of the lines the way I want them.

Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado | We learn a very bad way to treat a person, and I recall a gesture of respect.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 19 | Solomon meets an important person, and I struggle with this person's language. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 18 | We get a taste of some of the torture of slavery, and I get…upset. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 17 | Much discussion of escape attempts, and much apology in case I'm repeating myself. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 16 | Northup attempts an escape, and I attempt dialect. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 15 | Solomon discusses sugar and celebration, and I discuss...corn.

An important anniversary happened to fall on a Saturday this year. Join me for a moment to remember the tragedy on and after September 11, 2001.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 14 | A drive moves to more fertile grounds and we learn about cuisine, and I discuss cruelty. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 13 | We learn details of Solomon's new situation and companions, and I keep asking questions answered in the next line. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 12 | We learn about farming, and I discuss podcasts. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 11 | Northup gets a vacation, and I find a word I'll say for some reason. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 10 | Drama! Excitement! Reptiles! Reading! Birds! Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 9 | Northup's life is in danger, and I make a bunch of substitutions. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 8 | An altercation, and a dissertation. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 7 | Our titular narrator acclimates himself to his new surroundings, and I struggle to decide just what to do in a certain situation. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 6 | The party goes to market, and I get weird about diminutives. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 5 | Events unfold at sea, and I get *very* uncomfortable with *that* word. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 4 | We join Northup on an ocean voyage, and I'm refreshed by his levity. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

I realized that my schedule hit Juneteenth this year, right as I'm reading a book about slavery! I read a few relevant texts, and discuss other holiday possibilities. (Edit: oh hey, it's officially a federal holiday now!)

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 3 | Northup assesses his new situation, and I picture it all in the look of a video game. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 2 | Our narrator takes a trip, and I lay down some ground rules...sort of. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

We explore some short works of the American Civil War, in observance of Memorial Day (combined with our main book of 12 Years a Slave). Note: one of the poems is a little gory. I haven't marked this "Explicit" because it's only a little bit and it demonstrates the horror of war, but listener discretion is advised.

Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave - Chapter 1 | We begin the next phase of our journey together by meeting our new protagonist. This one is going to get interesting. Note: Listener discretion is advised for this book. It's about slavery; it is bound to get uncomfortable. It's not labeled Explicit because I don't believe the language is gratuitous, but it's definitely worth consideration before you listen. Reading this makes me uncomfortable, and I want you to be uncomfortable listening. Let's do this.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby - Chapter 9 | Callaway and I wrap things up.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby - Chapter 8 | Carraway learns of Gatsby's past, while we all learn about his future. I contrast the book with the movie and get super confused by sentence structure.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby - Chapter 7 | Gatsby visits East Egg, and I...well, give a disclaimer. Disclaimer: this chapter contains some...trauma. Listener discretion is advised, though I'm not going to mark it as "Explicit" because it's no worse than you might see on network TV (or maybe basic cable).

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby - Chapter 6 | Tom visits West Egg, and I talk about an old sitcom.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby - Chapter 5 | Carraway invites Daisy to tea...after I briefly turn in my Nerd Card.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby - Chapter 4 | Gatsby takes Carraway for an outing, and I stumble on a myriad of names.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby - Chapter 3 | Carraway finally gets a chance to attend one of his neighbor's parties...will he meet the titular host? I bring long-running primetime television into it, because why not?

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby - Chapter 2 | Carraway takes an outing with Tom, and discovers some secrets along the way. I get awkward about racism, and try to figure out what to do for my closing. Spoilers...I'm still not sure yet.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby - Chapter 1 | Nick Carraway, our narrator, moves to Long Island and visits old friends. I mix things up a bit with the podcast...but not too much! (Note: yes, this one got posted late, but at least it was the right day.)

A whole episode of the rambling you subscribe for! Or something. I figured after three books and just over a year, I'd talk a little about why I started the podcast, the process of making it (sort of), how to contact me (on the off chance you feel the need), and the future of the show (as far as I can tell).

Howard Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood - Epilogue | Robin **spoiler alert** lives a little while, then dies. I enjoyed this book, but am definitely glad to be moving on to another after 22 episodes!

Howard Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood - Chapter 21: King Richard Comes to Sherwood Forest | Robin has a formidable caller, and I encounter an environmental hazard.

Howard Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood - Chapter 20: Robin Hood and Guy of Gisbourne | Robin and Little John split off for another dual adventure, and I channel more Monty Python than usual.

Howard Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood - Chapter 19: The Chase of Robin Hood | Robin runs into trouble returning to Sherwood, and I try to recall from where I recognize a town name.