American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter
POPULARITY
Categories
In a world competing for our attention, our guest this week admits: “It's probably harder to read novels now than it ever was.” But their value cannot be overstated. The novel's unique humanity, its careful and open treatment of the human experience, helps us to develop a sympathetic imagination, tuning our hearts and minds in a way that non-fiction argument simply cannot. Christopher Scalia, author of 13 Novels Conservatives Will Love (but Probably Haven't Read), makes the case that it is a distinctly conservative interest to explore the Western tradition through fiction. Recommendations in hand, he invites adults to refresh their reading list with novels—from the very inception of the form up to the present. Chapters: 1:47 The great book rut 4:11 Novels: the medium of recent Western tradition 5:30 The 18th-century bildungsroman 9:47 “Conservative” themes 16:18 The American dream in My Ántonia 22:39 Miraculous realism in Peace Like a River 29:02 Acknowledging the existence of evil 31:44 Wonder and encounter over strict interpretation 37:03 Revisiting works from your school years 38:47 Why narrative works 42:01 Books that nearly made the cut Links: 13 Novels Conservatives Will Love (but Probably Haven't Read) by Christopher Scalia Christopher J. Scalia at American Enterprise Institute The History of Rasselas by Samuel Johnson (1759) Evelina by Frances Burney (1778) Waverley by Sir Walter Scott (1814) The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1852) Daniel Deronda by George Eliot (1876) My Ántonia by Willa Cather (1918) Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (1937) The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark (1963) The Children of Men by P. D. James (1992) Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (2001) Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (2004) The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2006) How I Won a Nobel Prize: A Novel by Julius Taranto (2023) Also on the Forum: Heights Forum Book Reviews On Reading Literature by Joseph Bissex Some Summer Reading Recommendations for Teachers by Tom Cox Modern Literature: On Curating the Contemporary featuring Mike Ortiz Guiding Our Boys through Modern Literature featuring Joe Breslin and Lionel Yaceczko Featured opportunities: Teaching Essentials Workshop at The Heights School (June 16-20, 2025) Convivium for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2025)
“James Wade's newest novel, Hollow Out the Dark, is a masterpiece of atmospheric crime fiction; a worthy successor to the likes of William Gay and Cormac McCarthy. Set in East Texas, it is an epic, and age-old, story of greed and generational betrayal—where vengeance is swift and forgiveness a long time coming.” Kathleen Kent, NYT bestselling … Continue reading Episode 164: Interview with James Wade, author of Hollow Out the Dark →
How are David Lynch's films as much in dialogue with literary and musical traditions as they are cinematic ones? By interrogating this question, David Lynch's American Dreamscape: Music, Literature, Cinema (Bloomsbury, 2025) broadens the interpretive horizons of Lynch's filmography, calling for a new approach to Lynch's films that goes beyond cinema and visual art to explore how Lynch's work engages with literary and musical works that have shaped the American imagination. As much as Lynch stands as a singular artistic voice, his work arises from and taps into the cultural zeitgeist in a way that illuminates not only his approach to creativity but also the way works interact with each other in an age of mass media. From children's literature to teen tragedy ballads, Nathanael West and Cormac McCarthy to folk music and mixtapes, David Lynch's American Dreamscape investigates the cultural frequencies Lynch's films tune into and positions Lynch's work as a conduit for American popular culture, a medium or channel through which the subconscious of American life finds its way into full view. The book expands upon this approach by discussing how artists such as David Foster Wallace and Lana Del Rey graft Lynch's affiliative, cinematic sensibility onto their own projects. Reading their work as intertextual engagements with Lynch's films further illustrates the versatile interactions among creators and audiences to generate more works, readers, and readings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies
On this episode, host Jason Jefferies and award-winning poet Dan Hawkins continue their read through of the works of Cormac McCarthy, this time with his first screenplay, The Gardener's Son. Further, Jason and Dan start their discussion about film adaptations of McCarthy's works with PBS's The Gardener's Son and James Franco's Child of God. Happy reading, friends!
In this conversation, Steve reflects on the final part of 'All the Pretty Horses' by Cormac McCarthy, discussing themes of growth, adventure, and the impact of relationships. He delves into the significance of Blevins' death, the role of Alejandra, and the value of horses in the characters' lives. Steve also contemplates the nature of exploration and change, ultimately sharing his personal reflections on the book's emotional depth and his anticipation for the next installment.Send us a messageSupport the showFilm Chewing Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2235582/followLens Chewing on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lenschewingSpeculative Speculations: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/speculative-speculationsSupport the podcast: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/7EQ7XWFUP6K9EJoin Riverside.fm: https://riverside.fm/?via=steve-l
En este episodio nos adentramos en el oscuro y sangriento universo de Doom, el icónico videojuego de id Software que cambió para siempre el modo en que entendemos el terror interactivo. Pero hoy no hablaremos de armas ni de demonios... sino de narrativa. ¿Puede un FPS de los 90 ser interpretado como una alegoría existencial? ¿Qué hay detrás de sus laberintos pixelados y su violencia desatada? Aquí respondemos a esas preguntas con un enfoque literario y simbólico que te hará mirar a Doom con otros ojos. Gilgamesh, Homero, Virgilio, Dante Alighieri, John Milton, Clark Ashton Smith, H. P. Lovecraft, William Blake, Charles Baudelaire, Paul Celan, Elfriede Jelinek, W. G. Sebald, Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Samuel Beckett, Franz Kafka, Georges Bataille, Thomas Ligotti, Friedrich Nietzsche, Nick Land, Cormac McCarthy..., todos ellos, de un modo u otro, están relacionados con el tema que nos ocupa el día de hoy. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vuelodelcometa YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vuelodelcometa Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/vuelodelcometa Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/vuelodelcometa.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vuelodelcometa Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vuelodelcometa Telegram: https://t.me/vuelodelcometacomunidad WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb16aSZEawdwoA2TD235 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vuelodelcometa Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@Vuelodelcometa Web: alvaroaparicio.net Si quieres apoyar este y otros proyectos relacionados: https://www.patreon.com/vuelodelcometa o a través del sistema de mecenazgo en iVoox. Y si quieres contactar con nosotros para una promoción, no dudes en ponerte en contacto a través de: vuelodelcometapodcast@gmail.com Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals
How are David Lynch's films as much in dialogue with literary and musical traditions as they are cinematic ones? By interrogating this question, David Lynch's American Dreamscape: Music, Literature, Cinema (Bloomsbury, 2025) broadens the interpretive horizons of Lynch's filmography, calling for a new approach to Lynch's films that goes beyond cinema and visual art to explore how Lynch's work engages with literary and musical works that have shaped the American imagination. As much as Lynch stands as a singular artistic voice, his work arises from and taps into the cultural zeitgeist in a way that illuminates not only his approach to creativity but also the way works interact with each other in an age of mass media. From children's literature to teen tragedy ballads, Nathanael West and Cormac McCarthy to folk music and mixtapes, David Lynch's American Dreamscape investigates the cultural frequencies Lynch's films tune into and positions Lynch's work as a conduit for American popular culture, a medium or channel through which the subconscious of American life finds its way into full view. The book expands upon this approach by discussing how artists such as David Foster Wallace and Lana Del Rey graft Lynch's affiliative, cinematic sensibility onto their own projects. Reading their work as intertextual engagements with Lynch's films further illustrates the versatile interactions among creators and audiences to generate more works, readers, and readings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
How are David Lynch's films as much in dialogue with literary and musical traditions as they are cinematic ones? By interrogating this question, David Lynch's American Dreamscape: Music, Literature, Cinema (Bloomsbury, 2025) broadens the interpretive horizons of Lynch's filmography, calling for a new approach to Lynch's films that goes beyond cinema and visual art to explore how Lynch's work engages with literary and musical works that have shaped the American imagination. As much as Lynch stands as a singular artistic voice, his work arises from and taps into the cultural zeitgeist in a way that illuminates not only his approach to creativity but also the way works interact with each other in an age of mass media. From children's literature to teen tragedy ballads, Nathanael West and Cormac McCarthy to folk music and mixtapes, David Lynch's American Dreamscape investigates the cultural frequencies Lynch's films tune into and positions Lynch's work as a conduit for American popular culture, a medium or channel through which the subconscious of American life finds its way into full view. The book expands upon this approach by discussing how artists such as David Foster Wallace and Lana Del Rey graft Lynch's affiliative, cinematic sensibility onto their own projects. Reading their work as intertextual engagements with Lynch's films further illustrates the versatile interactions among creators and audiences to generate more works, readers, and readings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies
How are David Lynch's films as much in dialogue with literary and musical traditions as they are cinematic ones? By interrogating this question, David Lynch's American Dreamscape: Music, Literature, Cinema (Bloomsbury, 2025) broadens the interpretive horizons of Lynch's filmography, calling for a new approach to Lynch's films that goes beyond cinema and visual art to explore how Lynch's work engages with literary and musical works that have shaped the American imagination. As much as Lynch stands as a singular artistic voice, his work arises from and taps into the cultural zeitgeist in a way that illuminates not only his approach to creativity but also the way works interact with each other in an age of mass media. From children's literature to teen tragedy ballads, Nathanael West and Cormac McCarthy to folk music and mixtapes, David Lynch's American Dreamscape investigates the cultural frequencies Lynch's films tune into and positions Lynch's work as a conduit for American popular culture, a medium or channel through which the subconscious of American life finds its way into full view. The book expands upon this approach by discussing how artists such as David Foster Wallace and Lana Del Rey graft Lynch's affiliative, cinematic sensibility onto their own projects. Reading their work as intertextual engagements with Lynch's films further illustrates the versatile interactions among creators and audiences to generate more works, readers, and readings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/film
How are David Lynch's films as much in dialogue with literary and musical traditions as they are cinematic ones? By interrogating this question, David Lynch's American Dreamscape: Music, Literature, Cinema (Bloomsbury, 2025) broadens the interpretive horizons of Lynch's filmography, calling for a new approach to Lynch's films that goes beyond cinema and visual art to explore how Lynch's work engages with literary and musical works that have shaped the American imagination. As much as Lynch stands as a singular artistic voice, his work arises from and taps into the cultural zeitgeist in a way that illuminates not only his approach to creativity but also the way works interact with each other in an age of mass media. From children's literature to teen tragedy ballads, Nathanael West and Cormac McCarthy to folk music and mixtapes, David Lynch's American Dreamscape investigates the cultural frequencies Lynch's films tune into and positions Lynch's work as a conduit for American popular culture, a medium or channel through which the subconscious of American life finds its way into full view. The book expands upon this approach by discussing how artists such as David Foster Wallace and Lana Del Rey graft Lynch's affiliative, cinematic sensibility onto their own projects. Reading their work as intertextual engagements with Lynch's films further illustrates the versatile interactions among creators and audiences to generate more works, readers, and readings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/music
How the creator of the bestselling Molly the Maid series went from publisher to author; Bee Quammie talks about feeling stuck in life to writing The Book of Possibilities; Reading while on The Road with Customer Services' Matt Cheverie; and what perfect happiness means to writer Curtis Sittenfeld on this episode of The Next Chapter.Books discussed on this week's show include:The Maid's Secret by Nita ProseEleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail HoneymanWhere I Belong by Alan DoyleEmancipation Day by Wayne GradyLittle Cruelties by Liz NugentThe Road by Cormac MccarthyThe Book of Possibilities by Bee QuammieFalling Back in Love with Being Human by Kai Cheng ThomA Letter to My Daughter by Maya AngelouShow Don't Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld
In this episode, Steve discusses Part Three of Cormac McCarthy's 'All the Pretty Horses,' focusing on character development, particularly Blevins and his obliviousness to the consequences of his actions. The conversation delves into the harsh realities faced by John and Rawlins, their interactions with Perez, and the significance of survival and friendship amidst danger. The episode highlights the effective writing and character dynamics, leaving listeners eager for the next part of the story.Send us a messageSupport the showFilm Chewing Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2235582/followLens Chewing on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lenschewingSpeculative Speculations: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/speculative-speculationsSupport the podcast: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/7EQ7XWFUP6K9EJoin Riverside.fm: https://riverside.fm/?via=steve-l
The Pestle: In-depth Movie Talk, No Fluff | Film Review | Spoilers
We trek across Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” and discuss: Cinematography, compositions, first frame last frame; Story & Writing, structure, morality, terse dialog; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.“ – […] The post Ep 321: “The Road” (2009) appeared first on The Pestle.
Thomas, DingDong und Jacko kehren dem Weltraum den Rücken und stürzen sich mit The Road in eine düstere, schonungslose Postapokalypse. In dieser trostlosen Welt kämpfen Viggo Mortensen und sein Filmspross — gespielt von Kodi Smit-McPhee — ums nackte Überleben auf dem Weg zum Meer. Die Verfilmung des gefeierten Romans von No Country for Old Men-Autor Cormac McCarthy wurde seinerzeit mit Spannung erwartet – und ebenso schnell wieder aus dem kollektiven Gedächtnis verdrängt. Doch verdient der Film wirklich dieses Schattendasein? Welche Art von Science-Fiction euch in The Road erwartet und ob sich ein Blick heute noch lohnt, erfahrt ihr im Podcast.
Una invasión marciana. Un apagón masivo. Una plaga zombi. Una hecatombe clásica. Una tormenta solar. ¿Cómo ha reflejado la ficción el fin del mundo? ¿Qué películas y libros nos han contado el apocalipsis? ¿Cuántos apagones hemos visto en la televisión? ¿Y por qué la radiofónica 'La guerra de los mundos' de Orson Welles (adaptando la novela de H.G. Wells) es el gran referente cultural del pánico masivo? Lo analizamos con Carlos Alsina, Rubén Amón, Rosa Belmonte, Guillermo Altares y Sergio del Molino, recomendando libros como 'La carretera' de Cormac McCarthy o la 'Anábasis' de Jenofonte, además de series como 'Galería nocturna'. Además, adelantamos la exposición ‘Los Machado: Retrato de familia', que se puede visitar en la RAE.
Una invasión marciana. Un apagón masivo. Una plaga zombi. Una hecatombe clásica. Una tormenta solar. ¿Cómo ha reflejado la ficción el fin del mundo? ¿Qué películas y libros nos han contado el apocalipsis? ¿Cuántos apagones hemos visto en la televisión? ¿Y por qué la radiofónica 'La guerra de los mundos' de Orson Welles (adaptando la novela de H.G. Wells) es el gran referente cultural del pánico masivo? Lo analizamos con Carlos Alsina, Rubén Amón, Rosa Belmonte, Guillermo Altares y Sergio del Molino, recomendando libros como 'La carretera' de Cormac McCarthy o la 'Anábasis' de Jenofonte, además de series como 'Galería nocturna'. Además, adelantamos la exposición ‘Los Machado: Retrato de familia', que se puede visitar en la RAE.
You are in for a treat today, pilgrim! I'll be ranking my favorite Western films of all time. I have a feeling many of these films will get a tip of my hat. However, I hope some of them are bad so I can shoot them into their grave. Keep your trigger finger ready and your eyes on the screen—yee-haw!
You can't wait for inspiration. You have to develop a habit. Even when you don't feel like writing, you show up—and the mind begins to wake up. – Tracy DaughertyIn this episode of What's Your Why?, host Emy DiGrappa welcomes acclaimed author and biographer Tracy Daugherty for a deep and thoughtful conversation about the craft of writing, the influence of landscape, and the shaping power of culture. From his West Texas upbringing to his literary inspirations like Larry McMurtry and Joan Didion, Tracy shares his journey into storytelling, his disciplined writing habits, and the physicality of language.They discuss what it means to grow up in a place that feels “unliterary,” how personal and public histories intersect in the writer's work, and why Tracy is drawn to biography as a form of cultural history. He also opens up about his current project on Cormac McCarthy and the ethical complexities of writing about real lives.Whether you're a writer, reader, or lover of Western landscapes and literary voices, this episode offers rich insights into the rhythms of a writing life—and the meaning we find in the stories we tell.Key topics:Writing habit vs. inspirationLarry McMurtry's legacy and the myths of the American WestBiography as cultural historyAI and authorship in the digital ageSky watching, family, and finding your place through storyResources:
In this episode, Steve delves into part two of Cormac McCarthy's 'All the Pretty Horses', exploring the significance of horses in the narrative, the cultural context surrounding the characters, and the unique prose style of McCarthy. He reflects on the emotional impact of the text and invites listeners to engage with the material as he contemplates the future of the discussion series.Send us a messageSupport the showFilm Chewing Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2235582/followLens Chewing on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lenschewingSpeculative Speculations: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/speculative-speculationsSupport the podcast: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/7EQ7XWFUP6K9EJoin Riverside.fm: https://riverside.fm/?via=steve-l
MICHAEL AMOS CODY chats to Paul Burke about his STREETS OF NASHVILLE, new country music, North Carolina, MTV, tragic inspiration for the novel, why done it not whodunnit and Runion.In Streets of Nashville, Ezra MacRae has a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of songs and their writers, and he has moved from the North Carolina mountains to Nashville's Music Row with the dream of becoming part of that songwriting world. Yet just as he is out on the town to celebrate his first good fortune after several years of trying-a staff songwriting contract with an independent music publisher-he witnesses the man who signed on the dotted lines with him gunned down with three others outside his Music Row office. The masked gunman spares Ezra. But why?Michael Amos Cody was born in the South Carolina Lowcountry and raised in the North Carolina highlands. He spent his twenties writing songs in Nashville and his thirties in school. He's the author of the novel Gabriel's Songbook (Pisgah Press) and short fiction that has appeared in Yemassee, Tampa Review, Still: The Journal, and elsewhere. His short story collection, A Twilight Reel (Pisgah Press) won the Short Story / Anthology category of the Feathered Quill Book Awards 2022. Cody lives with his wife Leesa in Jonesborough, Tennessee, and teaches in the Department of Literature and Language at East Tennessee State University.Author blog on Runion: https://michaelamoscody.com/2019/05/24/runion-north-carolina/Mentions: David Joy, Cormac McCarthy, Bruce Springsteen, Bob McDill, Thomas Wolfe, James Lee Burke, Heather Levy, CW Blackwell, Monster City Michael Arntfield, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Robert Southey, Charles Brockton Brown, Peter McDade, Don DeLillo - Great Jones Street.Recommendations: anything by Tony Hillerman and the adaptation of two of his novels for streaming Dark Wind.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of Spy Fiction will be out early 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,
"The struggle is the cost of admission. It is the price of doing business." - Stephen MarcheStephen Marche: On Writing, Failure, and the Enduring Struggle of the Creative Life
In this episode, Steve introduces the first part of Cormac McCarthy's 'All the Pretty Horses,' discussing his personal context with McCarthy's works and the unique writing style that draws him in. He explores the setting of 1949 Texas, the character dynamics, and the themes of journey and hospitality. Steve appreciates McCarthy's craftsmanship in creating atmosphere and expresses excitement for the upcoming discussions in the community.Send us a messageSupport the showFilm Chewing Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2235582/followLens Chewing on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lenschewingSpeculative Speculations: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/speculative-speculationsSupport the podcast: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/7EQ7XWFUP6K9EJoin Riverside.fm: https://riverside.fm/?via=steve-l
NO READING REQUIRED! As soon as Kimberly dove back in to No Country for Old Men, she knew she needed to parse what makes McCarthy SO GOOD. This exploration hits on all the ways that reading McCarthy is a master class in all elements of fiction: textured narrative voices, description of violence, sympathy for complex characters, dark humor, and others--not to mention gorgeous prose.
Show Notes:This episode comes out on Maundy Thursday, the day when Jesus celebrated his last Passover meal with his disciples and washed their feet in an act of humble service. Tomorrow is Good Friday, where Christians around the world relive Jesus' crucifixion and death and wait for the Good News of Easter Sunday--the day of resurrection and the restoration of hope.Why does this matter? Because in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are not only forgiven, but we are given a new way into offering forgiveness to those who have harmed us. Forgiveness is a complex process, often involving grief and mourning, and should not mean we forget or erase past harms. Today's guest gives us thoughtful insight into how we experience forgiveness--how we offer it to others and ask for it for ourselves. Dr. Matthew Ichihashi Potts is the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard Divinity School as well as the Pusey Minister of Harvard Memorial Church. He earned his BA from the University of Notre Dame, and both his MDiv and PhD degrees from Harvard. He is the author of Cormac McCarthy and the Signs of Sacrament: Literature, Theology, and the Moral of Stories and Forgiveness: An Alternative Account.Resources:Buy Forgiveness: An Alternative Account
In Episode 193, author Clare Leslie Hall talks with Sarah about her US debut, Broken Country — a breakout hit and a Reese's Book Club pick. A genre mash-up that is part love story and part murder trial, Clare talks about marketing Broken Country, how this came to be her first U.S. release, and the ways the novel evolved over time. Plus, Clare shares her book recommendations. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights Books by Clare Leslie Hall: Broken Country, Days You Were Mine (previously published as Mine), and Pictures of Him (previously published as Him). Clare gives a brief, spoiler-free overview of Broken Country. Clare's inspiration for Broken Country. How the themes of love, guilt, and connection play roles in the novel. The ways Broken Country developed and changed over the course of her writing process. How Clare decided that this was no longer a contemporary novel and needed to be set in the 1950s and 1960s. The aspect of the book of which she's most proud. How Broken Country came to be her first book released in the U.S. What the marketing looked like for Broken Country compared to her first two novels. Anything Clare would change about Broken Country down the line should she have the opportunity (since she was able to change the ending of her second book for the U.S. release). A bit about what Clare has planned for her next book. Clare's Book Recommendations [35:30] Two OLD Books She Loves Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively (1987) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:43] All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy (1992) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:26] Other Books Mentioned: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (1985) [38:42] Two NEW Books She Loves Nesting by Roisín O'Donnell (February 18, 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[40:12] Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell (July 30, 2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[41:33] Other Books Mentioned: The Wedding People by Alison Espach (July 30, 2024) [43:48] The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller (2021) [44:04] One Book She DIDN'T Love Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:22] One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About What the Deep Water Knows by Miranda Cowley Heller (July 1, 2025) | Amazon| Bookshop.org [48:40] Last 5-Star Book Clare Read Leaving by Roxana Robinson (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:19] Books From the Discussion Atonement by Ian McEwan (2001) [14:38] The Go-Between by L. P. Hartley (1953) [14:42] To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960) [16:22] Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (2018) [54:02] About Clare Leslie Hall Instagram | X Clare Leslie Hall is a novelist and journalist who lives in the wilds of Dorset, England, with her family. She's the author of Broken Country, Pictures of Him, and Days You Were Mine.
In this episode, Steve shares his reading journey, discussing various books including the latest in the Area X series, novellas, and Cormac McCarthy's works. He emphasizes the importance of community in discovering new authors and books, while also reflecting on his personal reading habits and challenges. The conversation highlights the value of shorter reads and the search for meaningful literary connections.Send us a messageSupport the showFilm Chewing Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2235582/followLens Chewing on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lenschewingSpeculative Speculations: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/speculative-speculationsSupport the podcast: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/7EQ7XWFUP6K9EJoin Riverside.fm: https://riverside.fm/?via=steve-l
This week, host Jason Jefferies welcomes back Bookin' favorite Dan Hawkins, librarian at The Citadel and Cormac McCarthy aficionado. This time, Jason and Dan talk about Blood Meridian, and oh boy is it a big one. Copies of Blood Meridian can be purchased from your favorite local independent bookstore. Happy reading!
Essayist Brian Patrick Eha returns to the Dark Room to ride the Sunset Limited and talk all things Cormac McCarthy, Stella Maris, Blood Meridian, Martin Luther and more. Get the After Dark episode and more at patreon.com/artofdarkpod or substack.com/@artofdarkpod. x.com/brianeha x.com/artofdarkpod x.com/abbielucas x.com/kautzmania […]
The Drunk Guys drink till they're cross-eyed this week when they read The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy. They cross off: Tequila Margarita by Dogfish Head and Oscillation by Finback. Join the Drunk Guys next Tuesday for UBIK by Phillip K Dick The Drunk Guys now have a Patreon! The Drunk
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit smokeempodcast.substack.comNancy and Sarah are joined by Aaron Gywn — paragon of good will on Twitter/X (follow at x.com/AmericanGwyn), literature professor, and author of numerous works of fiction, including The Cannibal Owl — to discuss a recent viral story in Compact Magazine, “The Vanishing White Male Writer.” We talk about shifts in publishing/culture, the trap of identity, and what great literature can do. Since Gwyn is a Cormac McCarthy expert, we also discuss the controversial 2024 Vanity Fair story about McCarthy and his muse, Augusta Britt.Also discussed:* The lost Pop Rocks episode* St. Louis, cool town* The epic beauty of Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove* “Jonathan Franzen is too much with us.”* 2014, the cultural swing year* The Michel Foucault of it all* “Most of publishing is throwing spaghetti at the wall to see if it sticks.”* Nancy needs to go to therapy* Aaron's message for writers: “If you want something, go get it.”* “NICE TITS”* Love and admiration for fiction writer Phil Klay* Male writers trying to “reassure the reader that he is the right sort of white man.”* On not getting over the 2008 death of David Foster Wallace* Butt-chugging Infinite Jest* How Ric Ocasek won Paulina Porizkova* Drakkar Noir makes Sarah horny* How Aaron reacts when caught in the tractor beam of beauty* “I contain multi-tools”* Mary Gaitskill, the honey badger of writersAlso, why Aaron cannot get fired up about anything that happened after 1876, how fiction writing is like ventriloquism, why we're all broken but still deserve love, and much more!
In this weekly update, Steve discusses his reading journey, the challenges of managing time for reading, and the complexities of various narratives. He shares insights on community engagement through book discussions, his experiences with different genres, and reflections on the works of Cormac McCarthy. The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of publishing, the impact of AI on literature, and the nostalgia of revisiting classic comics.Send us a messageSupport the showFilm Chewing Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2235582/followLens Chewing on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lenschewingSpeculative Speculations: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/speculative-speculationsSupport the podcast: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/7EQ7XWFUP6K9EJoin Riverside.fm: https://riverside.fm/?via=steve-l
Devin Diazoni and Ewa Mykytyn respond to a few listener emails about The Only Good Indians, name the Book Club's next title (another by Stephen Graham Jones), and announce the return of a recurring series! For dates, pages-to-read, and other information, be sure to follow Film Literate on Instagram! Please support the podcast on Patreon!Find your hosts on social media:Devin Diazoni (Letterboxd|StoryGraph)Ewa Mykytyn (Goodreads|Armchair Chat on IG)
Carry the Fire, Get to the Coast: John Hillcoat's The Road Bleak & Dark, Hopeless & Beautiful . . . On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I sit down to discuss one of the most brutal and powerful films to emerge from the studio system in decades. In 2009 Director John Hillcoat adapted Cormac McCarthy's 2006 novel The Road. Featuring a career best Viggo Mortensen as "Man" and newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee as "Boy" - two of the last surviving humans, left to wander the desperate and perilous remains of a world rapidly dying. There's only so much that should be said in this synopsis. The magic of a viewing is in the discovery. It's a thrill for the both of us to watch, conemplate, and discuss this film. Take a listen. We hope you enjoy it. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks. For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
Raconteur, herpetologist, and Cormac McCarthy scholar Rick Wallach joins Special Agent Sarah and Candy to discuss his forthcoming book IN SEARCH OF GODZILLA: MYTH, STAGECRAFT AND POLITICS IN ISHIRO HONDA'S MASTERPIECE. Everything monster in this episode folks. Did you know the connections between Kurosawa and Honda? Did you know women were liberated to equality in Japan before the USA...by the USA? What was the migration feeding path of Godzilla? Thank you for listening! Write us at: the agency.podcast@gmail.com Find supplementary content on our social media pages too.
In this episode, Steve reflects on the podcast's milestone of 50,000 downloads and shares his recent reading experiences, including 'Cloud Atlas' and 'Dead House Gates'. He discusses the challenges of keeping track of complex narratives and the comfort of rereading classics like 'Watchmen'. The conversation also touches on the mental toll of being an author, the joy of exploring used bookstores, and engaging with the community through reading discussions and blog contributions.Send us a messageSupport the showFilm Chewing Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2235582/followLens Chewing on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lenschewingSpeculative Speculations: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/speculative-speculationsSupport the podcast: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/7EQ7XWFUP6K9EJoin Riverside.fm: https://riverside.fm/?via=steve-l
Since this podcast's inception, Anton Chigurh has been one of our most requested rogues. This week, we're playing a game of chance with this formidable foe as we finally dive deep into No Country for Old Men. Topics include: the origins of Cormac McCarthy's novel, the Coens process of adapting it, key differences between Chigurh's portrayal in the book vs the movie, reactions to the subversive final act, what the movie leaves out, the ways in which it might actually one-up the source material, and much more! Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram Chris's Instagram | Kristen's Instagram Chris & Kristen's Web Series: The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIfNHpItYR8 Sharing my thoughts on Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian. Vital Dissent website Join my email list and become a premium member: http://www.vitaldissent.club Vital Dissent Merch 10% off with code VD10 Show notes: Support Today | The Libertarian Institute The Greatest, Terrible Book Ever Made - The Story too Disturbing to be a Movie: Blood Meridian Judge Holden Holds Forth on War (Blood Meridian) – Biblioklept Amazon Affiliate Link
Liberty Weekly - Libertarian, Ancap, & Voluntaryist Legal Theory from a Rothbardian Perspective
Sharing my thoughts on Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian. Vital Dissent website Join my email list and become a premium member: http://www.vitaldissent.club Vital Dissent Merch 10% off with code VD10 Show notes: Support Today | The Libertarian Institute The Greatest, Terrible Book Ever Made - The Story too Disturbing to be a Movie: Blood Meridian Judge Holden Holds Forth on War (Blood Meridian) – Biblioklept Amazon Affiliate Link
Nick Newman is an award-nominated author, who as Nicholas Bowling has published 4 genre-defying books for children. Now, he's written his debut adult novel, called 'The Garden'. It's an other-worldly retelling of 'The Secret Garden', inspired by Cormac McCarthy. It tells the story of Lily, Evelyn and a nameless boy who wanders into their vast and flourishing garden.We discuss the balance of getting the plot down, whilst also writing some lovely words. Also, why he tells himself one thing about what works best for him... whilst knowing the opposite is true, hear about a recent location switch which has changed everything, and whether he thinks he's a writer or a story-teller (there is a difference)This week's episode is sponsored by Scribe Shadow, a game-changing tool for writers trying to reach international readers. It uses advanced AI to translate your work into other languages, helping you reach a global audience quickly and affordably. Find out more at app.scribeshadow.comSupport the show - patreon.com/writersroutineko-fi.com/writersroutineGet a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Cesky and Panda discuss The Garden by Nick Newman (released February 18, 2025). Described as "A darkly beautiful, eerie, hypnotic novel about two elderly sisters living alone at the edge of the world." Perhaps a more appropriate read for fans of The Road by Cormac McCarthy or Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. But don't expect much sff aspects to the story.Disclaimer: We received an ARC of The Garden from NetGalleyMusic: Galactic Damages by Jingle PunksDiscord: https://discord.gg/FNcpuuABlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/greenteampod.bsky.socialThreads:https://www.threads.net/@greenteampod Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thelegendarium/
This past December your not-so-intrepid host was able to make a pilgrimage to San Marcos, Texas, to visit the Wittliff Collection in the Alkek Library at Texas State University and plumb its treasure trove of McCarthy archives. My guest in this episode is Katie Salzmann, who has been Lead Archivist at The Wittliff Collections at Texas State since 2004. Prior to that, she worked with literary and historical manuscript collections at Southern Illinois University and Howard University. She holds a BA in English from The College of Wooster in Ohio, and a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Texas-Austin. Katie oversees all areas of The Wittliff's archival program, and her talented team process collections, provide reference and instruction, and digitize select materials. Katie processed the original Cormac McCarthy collection acquired in 2007 and is currently working on the latest accrual anticipated to open in Fall of 2025 .Thanks to Thomas Frye, who composed, performed, and produced the music for READING MCCARTHY. The views of the host and his guests do not necessarily reflect the views of their home institutions or the Cormac McCarthy Society If you're agreeable it'll help us if you provide favorable reviews on your favored platforms. If you enjoy this podcast you may also enjoy the GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL PODCAST, hosted by myself and Kirk Curnutt. To contact me, please reach out to readingmccarthy(@)gmail.com. The website is at readingmccarthy.buzzsprout.com.Support the showStarting in spring of 2023, the podcast began accepting minor sponsorship offers to offset the costs of the podcast. This may cause a mild disconnect in earlier podcasts where the host asks for patrons in lieu of sponsorships. But if we compare it to a very large and naked bald man in the middle of the desert who leads you to an extinct volcano to create gunpowder, it seems pretty minor...
Young guy writes a Substack piece about his favorite author, Cormac McCarthy. It gets a few reads, and turns out that one of those readers knows old Cormac and actually reads him the piece. In fact, she's known and loved old Cormac for 40+ years. She corresponds with the young guy and eventually decides he's the right person to tell her story, which is a love story that began almost half a century ago, when she was a homeless 16 year-old girl who randomly met a not yet famous author in his 40s sitting by the pool at a run-down motel in New Mexico. Crazy, wild love story/lifelong friendship commences. Young guy writes this forbidden love story, publishes it in Vanity Fair in prissy, easily offended 2024, and all hell breaks loose.Vincenzo's Substack is here. Vincenzo's professor's Substack is here.Dare to join us in Montana this summer!If you're gonna buy stuff on Amazon, please use this link.Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range. “Star People,” by George Michael. “Come on in My Kitchen,” sung by Chris Thomas King. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisryan.substack.com/subscribe
Novelist Aaron Gwyn joins the show to discuss the fiction of Cormac McCarthy. Why is McCarthy's Blood Meridian a great American novel? What does Gwyn make of recent revelations about McCarthy's personal life? Plus, Gwyn reads from and discusses his compelling new novella, The Cannibal Owl. What is the history, and what are the Comanche traditions, behind the […]
Sterling Strong joins me to talk about Cormac McCarthy's infamous Child of God.
Acclaimed novelist and Director of the Iowa Writers' Workshop Lan Samantha Chang joins Fiction/Non/Fiction hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to discuss the role that literary personas may–or may not–have played in recent revelations about Alice Munro, Neil Gaiman, and Cormac McCarthy. Chang discusses how writers often develop literary personas as their public profiles grow. Chang also discusses how personas can be both protective and damaging when they no longer align with the writer's true self, the impact of personas on writers' privacy and the industry's role in shaping and maintaining these personas. She reads from her novel All is Forgotten, Nothing is Lost. To hear the full episode, subscribe through iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app (include the forward slashes when searching). You can also listen by streaming from the player below. Check out video versions of our interviews on the Fiction/Non/Fiction Instagram account, the Fiction/Non/Fiction YouTube Channel, and our show website: https://www.fnfpodcast.net/. This podcast is produced by Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan. Selected Readings: Lan Samantha Chang The Family Chao Hunger Inheritance All is Forgotten, Nothing is Lost Writers, Protect Your Inner Life |Lit Hub|August 7, 2017 Others: A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway Erasure, Percival Everett Fiction/Non/Fiction Season 6 Episode 40: “In Memory of Cormac McCarthy: Oscar Villalon on an Iconic Writer's Life, Work, and Legacy” Fiction/Non/Fiction Season 7 Episode 19: “Jacinda Townsend and James Bernard Short on American Fiction” James Alan McPherson Fiction/Non/Fiction Season 7 Episode 35: “Jonny Diamond on His Mother and Alice Munro” The Dark Secrets Behind the Neil Gaiman Abuse Accusations|Vulture | January 13, 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I'm joined by Bryan Counter to discuss Cormac McCarthy's novel Suttree --- Become part of the Hermitix community: Hermitix Twitter - / hermitixpodcast Support Hermitix: Patreon - / hermitix Donations: - https://www.paypal.me/hermitixpod Hermitix Merchandise - http://teespring.com/stores/hermitix-2 Bitcoin Donation Address: 3LAGEKBXEuE2pgc4oubExGTWtrKPuXDDLK Ethereum Donation Address: 0x31e2a4a31B8563B8d238eC086daE9B75a00D9E74
Jeff and Rebecca look back at the books & stories that defined 2024. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. For more industry news, sign up for our Today in Books daily newsletter! Check out the Book Riot Podcast Book Page on Thriftbooks! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Book Riot's TBR The Book Riot Podcast on Instagram The Book Riot Podcast Patreon The 2025 Read Harder Challenge is live _________________________ The dust settled as publishing's earnings rebound in H1 Barnes & Noble is back, baby, and they bought a beloved indie The Discourse: Remember the moment when some people thought Taylor Swift wrote Argylle? PRH dismisses Reagan Arthur & Lisa Lucas NYT's top 100 books of the century so far NaNoWriMo's PR fail with AI only 20k serious readers of lit fic? Coming Attractions: Spielberg in talks to produce James adaptation directed by Taika Waititi Liz Moore signs Sony deal for Long Bright River & God of the Woods Meryl Streep in adaptation of The Corrections Florence Pugh in East of Eden for Netflix The Black List expands to fiction & highlights publishing's most-wanted adaptations, Book banning news: Idaho library to become adults-only High school shuts down library due to book banning law Big Five and Authors Guild sue over Florida law PRH hires a public policy role Many states have banned book bans In memoriam: Daniel Kahneman John Gierach Edna O'Brien Francine Pascal Nikki Giovanni Paul Auster The #metoo trifecta of Cormac McCarthy, Alice Munro, and Neil Gaiman The robots are coming: authors sue Anthropic Roxane Gay & Margaret Atwood among authors helping create AI reading guides Number go up: US audiobook sales hit $2 billion in 2023 One to watch: ByteDance's 8th Note Press to publish print books in 2025 This is why literacy matters: Florida dept of education recommends Pride & Prejudice as a book about American pride Listener feedback award: the surprising origins of publishing's seasons, Sophia's It Books tracker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.comA few of the issues stumbled over: The complicated ethics of revenge against a corporation. Yet more evidence that we don't live in the real world. On old creeps like Woody Allen, Cormac McCarthy, and me. And more!Here's the article about Cormac McCarthy I mentioned and the response from The Guardian.Intro music “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Ran…