don delillo returns to the podcast (via the written word) as we continue our un/adaptable module with underworld. in spite of us kicking off the “unadaptable” half of this module with this book, it turns out… it’s very adaptable, and may be getting made! oops. anyway. we talk about how underworld is “the delillo fingerprint,” how the narrative’s structure re-prioritizes plot vs. character, and how this compares to other delillo novels. we talk about delillo’s incredible ability to write about sports. we talk about weirdos who spend a lot of money on pez and funko pops and that time tulsa risked his life as a 17-year-old idiot. we also discuss commercializing nuclear war and the meaning and creation of “the great american novel.” we also discuss how to adapt underworld and who we’d cast. reading list for season five the zone of interest by martin amis underworld by don delillo eileen by ottessa moshfegh speedboat by renata adler memory by donald westlake blood and guts in high school by kathy acker project hail mary by andy weir the raw shark texts by steven hall crying in h mart by michelle zauner wittgenstein’s mistress by david markson nightbitch by rachel yoder infinite jest by david foster wallace

we head back in time to kick off our un/adaptable module with the zone of interest by martin amis. first, though, we stop for a pre-emptive fantasy baseball team check-in before we find an updated cast list for jonathan glazer's adaptation. tulsa takes down goodreads readers and then shares some background on martin amis. we talk about whether or not martin amis is a showoff (but, like, in a good way), wonder how jonathan glazer will adapt this (including rumors we've heard), and try to parse the meaning and intent behind untranslated text. tulsa rails against pacific rim (again?). we push back against criticism that the novel lacks an ending, criticize its structural inconsistency, and make plans to cover the film adaptation. we pitch a new (and much better) ending for the novel. reading list for season five the zone of interest by martin amis underworld by don delillo eileen by ottessa moshfegh speedboat by renata adler memory by donald westlake blood and guts in high school by kathy acker project hail mary by andy weir the raw shark texts by steven hall crying in h mart by michelle zauner wittgenstein’s mistress by david markson nightbitch by rachel yoder infinite jest by david foster wallace

our louisiana module comes to a close with its third and final book: a confederacy of dunces by john kennedy toole. before we discuss the book, we learn about tulsa as "a state of mind" and finally unveil why original host bobby left the show. we discuss the interconnectedness to other books this module, whether or not we know any ingatius j. reilly types in real life, and whether it feels more or less new orleans and louisiana than the other books in this module. we wonder whether the new orleans accent truly sounds like a new jersey accent. tulsa offers joey a gross gift. we look ahead to future states, perspectives, and field trips. we share an important real-life food update, discuss "the valve" and dollar hot dog nights, and whine about the terrible kindle experience for this book. reading list for season four the moviegoer by walker percy all the king’s men by robert penn warren a confederacy of dunces by john kennedy toole

our “suck shit, sufjan stevens” module (#1) continues as we stay in the sticky, humid louisiana weather for all the king’s men by robert penn warren, our first of two pulitzer prize-winning novels in a row. we discuss the parallels you can (easily) draw between willie stark and donald trump, compare the protagonist (and their levels of inaction) of this novel (jack) to the protagonist of our last novel (binx in the moviegoer), and talk about our favorite/least favorite chapters. we talk about its status as another “great american novel,” compare it to other similar works, and lament an overall lack of characters in the story. we talk about david simon, read egg’s email, and wonder whether or not anne “should” love willie. not enough jokes in this write-up, if we’re being honest, but hey — what can you do. reading list for season four the moviegoer by walker percy all the king’s men by robert penn warren a confederacy of dunces by john kennedy toole

we’re kicking off our first “suck shit, sufjan stevens” module by heading down to louisiana for a three-book season, kicking off with the moviegoer by walker percy. after tulsa establishes his obsession with four loko (and joey shares his history adjacent to it), tulsa makes an assertion that he gets wrong and joey surprises tulsa with his reaction to this book. we talk about how the moviegoer kind of swerves (at least based on its title), the role geography plays within the novel, and how it’s a great example of accessing stuff through what it’s not (and how to find love for a region by leaving that region). we explore the novel’s pro-suicide slant and talk about how our modules shape the way we read things. we plan lottery pod field trips and define what a moviegoer is. we also learn that the world has spoken — and it wants more bowel movements. reading list for season four the moviegoer by walker percy all the king’s men by robert penn warren a confederacy of dunces by john kennedy toole

our internet module comes to a close with fake accounts by lauren oyler — and yet another great author instagram handle. we share praise for the title, discuss whether or not fake accounts is satire, and talk about the likeability (or absolute lack thereof) we have for the narrator. we admire the meticulous way with which each sentence is unbelievably crafted, praise lauren oyler for her precise editing ability, and discuss how skills and talent do (or don’t) translate depending on the situation in which they’re used. we also talk about the reversal in the narrative and the way irony is used in both fake accounts and in megan boyle’s liveblog. shreds dunks on joey’s goodreads picture and pries into his dating life. joey (sort of accidentally) picks a perfect passage to read aloud. shreds avers his determination to reclaim certain “negative” words and makes a plea to our saudi arabian listeners. reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti liveblog by megan boyle 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood aesthetica by allie rowbottom things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca neuromancer by william gibson we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets fake accounts by lauren oyler

our internet module is nearing its end, and today we’re talking about we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets. we talk about the value of reading literature in translation, the weird position that reading novellas puts shreds in, and the current state of social media (and content moderation). we discuss how we had to remove this post reframes long-term exposure to horrific things, how it compares to dave eggers’ the circle, and how it leaves characters’ beliefs open to interpretation. we talk about motormouths and “brand suitability.” the honorable judge matt erdely returns to judge a book by its cover — and to recommend the swashbuckling adventures of cassian andor. reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti liveblog by megan boyle 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood aesthetica by allie rowbottom things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca neuromancer by william gibson we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets fake accounts by lauren oyler

our mini sci-fi module (maybe not really a thing) within our broader internet module continues with neuromancer by william gibson. after checking in on our new year’s resolutions (for the second time this module? but first [maybe?] time-appropriate instance) and setting new ones for 2023, we offer a disclaimer for neuromancer superfans. we compare neuromancer to snow crash, talk about ridley scott’s blade runner, and the evolution and cultural osmosis of science fiction narratives and plot elements. we share shreds’s tip to “unlock” the novel, discuss neuromancer as yet another book about language, and america’s concept of futurism. we praise our main man chappie. shreds wonders if he’s “just getting stupider and stupider.” we talk about how to best adapt neuromancer. shreds talks about why the first sentence does a perfect job setting the tone for the entire book. joey tries to link neuromancer to liveblog. reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti liveblog by megan boyle 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood aesthetica by allie rowbottom things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca neuromancer by william gibson we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets fake accounts by lauren oyler

recorded in spooky season, releasing in the most wonderful time of the year (according to that one song), our internet module continues with things have gotten worse since we last spoke and other misfortunes by eric larocca. we talk about the different ways the titular story can be consumed, discuss why the narrative might be set in the year 2000, and lament the lack of variation in its epistolary style. we talk about how framing “things have gotten worse since we last spoke” as an internet story may be unfair to how we read it, then use egg’s email to guide our discussions about “the enchantment” and “you’ll find it’s like that all over.” shreds talks about the mcrib and being “pork drunk.” reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti liveblog by megan boyle 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood aesthetica by allie rowbottom things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca neuromancer by william gibson we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets fake accounts by lauren oyler

after covering her work last week, we spoke with allie rowbottom, author of aesthetica and jell-o girls. joey and allie share some memories about her book’s launch party/reading before we talk about the publishing world being separate from this type of content, how allie focused on the deep emotional underpinnings of the characters and the world, and how it’s more than just an “internet novel.” joey delivers another non-question that leads to a compliment before we discuss whether there was more story to tell toward the end, how the novel could be adapted into a three-season tv series, and who would play anna in the adaptation. we talk about a weird thing in allie’s wiki. she shares picks for a mini-module. we discuss the risk of recommending media to other people and give allie an award. we discuss the weirdness inherent in instagram comments sections, @paigeuncaged and @dudesinthedm, and lana del rey. allie’s mini-module: body high by jon lindsey heartbroke and godshot by chelsea bieker long live the tribe of fatherless girls by t kira madden a year without a name by cyrus dunham boys of alabama by genevieve hudson a cigarette lit backwards and life of the party by tea hacic-vlahovic reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti liveblog by megan boyle 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood aesthetica by allie rowbottom things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca neuromancer by william gibson we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets fake accounts by lauren oyler

the newest episode of lotto pod is also the newest book we’ll cover this season: aesthetica by allie rowbottom. first, some news: shreds is dead; long live tulsa, who shares his thoughts on saying “happy birthday.” we then talk about how the internet has changed over the course of this season, how “the real world” keeps popping up in our conversations, and how phones have changed the ways we socialize. we wonder if surgery will ever become obsolete. tulsa shares the research he did for the episode (and describes some tiktok memes) before he accidentally engages in self-harm, gets vulnerable, and shows his age. reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti liveblog by megan boyle 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood aesthetica by allie rowbottom things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca neuromancer by william gibson we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets fake accounts by lauren oyler

can a dog be twins? our next stop in our internet module is no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood. we talk about how the novel’s content (at least in the first-half) relies on existing (and somewhat inexplicable) scaffolding around internet humor as well as the way that it captures how fast trends happen and how the internet has an ability to change language forever. we compare it to darcie wilder’s literally show me a healthy person and talk about how lockwood’s priestdaddy informs this narrative. we also talk about the “stomach-dropping” moment midway through the novel, how that ties into the internet, and how the overall narrative reminds people there’s more to life than twitter. joey talks about delilah before bob re-affirms a pledge and teaches us all about juridical postulates (?). reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti liveblog by megan boyle 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca neuromancer by william gibson we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets fake accounts by lauren oyler

we’re headed back in time (?) to go forward in time (maybe?) to the metaverse (definitely) to talk about snow crash by neal stephenson. we talk about science-fiction being an unusual genre for the pod, trying to balance prescience and ingenuity with problematic plot points, and the pros and cons of writing dystopian futures based on current events. bob gets flabbergasted by neal stephenson’s turn toward a dean koontz mainstay, joey stumbles through a plot summary, and bob shares his issue with the ending. we talk about snow crash‘s influence and potential adaptation, the chicken-and-egg nerd interest conundrum of snow crash‘s content, and the importance of getting your narrative’s jargon right. joey shouts out amelia gray. bob finds himself surrounded by nerds. reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti liveblog by megan boyle 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca neuromancer by william gibson we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets fake accounts by lauren oyler

our internet module continues as we talk about 17776 by jon bois. is it a book? what defines a book? we get into it. after shreds kickflip mctwists his way back onto the podcast, we talk about what we love about bois's work and discuss "the ichiro moment." we break down the sci-fi future presented by bois, the work's unusual intersection of science-fiction and sports, and using the internet to tell a story in a way only the internet can tell a story. joey tries to get literate. bob swats him down. reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti liveblog by megan boyle 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

megan boyle swung by the ol’ lottery pod treehouse to talk with us about her book liveblog (and a whole lot more). after briefly pivoting to a bob-centric interview, we talk about liveblog existing in a different era of the internet, how her intentions in writing liveblog aligned (or didn’t) with how it played out, and whether the word “autofiction” makes her cringe. we talk about what liveblog would have been like if she thought about making it a book from the start, the process of adapting this from a tumblr into a book, and her transition away from a public persona online. bob pitches his return to liveblog idea; megan talks about her 2020 return to the liveblog format. joey reads some of megan’s writing to her. megan explains the thought process behind the 37-hour livestream reading. bob likens megan to david blaine. we get answers about megan’s parents’ sleep patterns. we talk about asmr (and kind of give each other asmr). we introduce megan to the idea of the quadrant. megan offers some stone cold nba locks. megan’s mini-module #1: “autofiction-y stuff that is a little more ambitious/creative than regular ‘autofiction'”: empty words and the luminous novel by mario levrero torpor, i love dick, and all other books by chris kraus seven samurai swept away in a river and a contrived world by jung young moon plus, a note from megan: “probably not ‘supposed to,’ but i read all david foster wallace as autobiographical (recommend everything but broom of the system & the pale king, which i haven’t read, but given what i know i feel like i’d probably recommend pk over bots). i actually read most fiction as autobiographical in some capacity; it feels farsighted to me when people act as though their imagination isn’t part of who they are.) megan’s mini-module #2: “psychologically-minded memoirs that helped me on path i’m currently on”: the words to say it by marie cardinal juliet the maniac by juliet escoria memories, dreams, reflections by c.g. jung reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti liveblog by megan boyle 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

our internet module continues with our longest book this season (and one of our favorites we’ve covered so far): liveblog by megan boyle. (our interview with megan will drop next week.) this episode begins with a return to everyone’s favorite segment (schedule talk) before we talk about our poor planning re: podcast preparation. we explore the “scaffolding” of liveblog, megan boyle’s bravery (and her trust in her audience), and how relatable so much of this novel is. joey likens liveblog to the avengers. bob has a stretch of saying words in a strange way. we talk about how liveblog simultaneously enforces and unplugs drug stereotypes, whether or not work like this is imitable, and how it (like seemingly every other book we’ve covered) winds up being about language. we praise megan boyle for her ability to recount dreams. “trout : that’s the fish.” joey breaks the podcast’s one rule. egg sends in an email. bob has an idea for a return to liveblog. reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti liveblog by megan boyle 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

our internet module heads toward another brand new novel as we share (kind of!) conflicting opinions about the novelist by jordan castro. we talk about how castro writes about the process of writing, the multiple jordan castros at play here, and how online life dictates our thoughts and controls our actions. bob lays out his dictates for editing this podcast before (boldly!) defending himself; joey laughs and throws bob out of whack. we decide that this is a gray man podcast now before we head “back to the bathroom!” a triumphant segment returns. reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti liveblog by megan boyle 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

we’re joined by fernando sdrigotti, author of shitstorm, to talk about his writing and how “the algorithm loves a shitstorm.” we find out about the (vastly different) origins of the “novelette,” how the pacing of the writing changed over time, and being on twitter throughout the news events referenced in his writing. we talk about richard dawkins, the need to “do the work” to keep up with social media (and the language therein), and how twitter has evolved over the years. can twitter be saved? how different would shitstorm be if he published it in 2022? does bob know about wagatha christie? we get to the bottom of all of these important questions, learn a great argentinian phrase used when people die, and return to our newest and best segment. fernando’s mini-module picks: the twittering machine by richard seymour in the swarm: digital prospects by byung-chul han so you’ve been publicly shamed by jon ronson reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca liveblog by megan boyle neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

sorry, tipper gore! our internet module continues with shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti, and the google ban is still being upheld. it’s not christmas (yet), but we check in on our new year’s resolutions and talk about (very) short stories before diving into sdrigotti’s novella. we discuss the perceived catharsis of writing this, the novella’s parallels to our reality, and how it investigates the hypocrisies that engage our cycle of anger. we compare shitstorm to books we’ve read (but episodes we haven’t released yet, sorry), try to parse what the final third of the novella means, and break down the focus on feces we’ve found in our narratives. bob brings up milkshake duck and yells “poop” at joey’s alexa. reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti liveblog by megan boyle 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

this episode of how to win the lottery starts in media res, which is fancy speak for “in the middle of the action.” (this may be wildly wrong, but we must operate under the assumption that bob’s google ban is still in effect.) we’re joined by b.r. yeager, author of amygdalatropolis, to talk about what “transgressive fiction” means (and if it means anything at all), how to pin down truth in a place where exaggeration and lying is the norm, and the process of writing difficult scenes. we talk about our own experiences with the internet, the temptation to type in links found within amygdalatropolis, and the story behind the edia connole essay that opens this novel. bob pulls a “trick” out of joey’s bag, then bonds with b.r. over death grips and the pronunciation of gif. b.r. picks some books for you to check out next. we talk about the pressure of the “now playing” section on livejournal. bob unveils a new question/segment. b.r.’s mini-module picks: the sluts by dennis cooper the unyielding by gary j. shipley an ideal for living by eugene thacker gag reflex by elle nash reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca liveblog by megan boyle neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

our internet season continues with amygdalatropolis by b.r. yeager, which tackles a topic new to literature. (note: this episode has a content warning.) after stumbling over the title (and what an amygdala does), we talk about the literal structure and style of printing books, the act of (once again) reading the internet in print form, and defining the different worlds explored in the narrative. we discuss amygdalatropolis as a transressive novel, the way it captures an 8chan-esque forum, and the hyperreality it dabbles in toward its end. plus, we try to make sense of edia connole’s academic essay that kicks off the book, and what its placement means to the text. bob enacts a google ban and explains why he may have been included in this narrative. egg mixes up her email sign-off. reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca liveblog by megan boyle neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder is one of our favorite books this season, and today we’re talking to darcie all about it (and a whole lot more). after calling for ducks, newburyport in every port, we talk about darcie’s process to writing, how film school informed her structure, and how rad harmony korine is. darcie’s dog coco stops by as we talk about skunks and armadillos and then praise diners. darcie talks about separating truth from fiction in the writing and what it was like to record the audiobook before outing her self as a fan of the pod (and the books we cover). we talk about what she originally wanted the book to be called, celebrity book clubs, and kendall jenner. darcie recommends some books. we talk about dating profiles and how astrology is wack. darcie’s mini-module picks: letters to wendy’s by joe wenderoth i remember by joe brainard a crackup at the race riots by harmony korine pieces for the left hand by j. robert lennon bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney body work: the radical power of personal narrative by melissa febos hill william, crapalachia: a biography of place, and the sarah book by scott mcclanahan the no hellos diet by sam pink exalted and bad lawyer: a memoir of law and disorder by anna dorn reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde mount chicago by adam levin (bonus episode) literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder the novelist by jordan castro 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca liveblog by megan boyle neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

our season on the internet continues with literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder. joey is joined by “the man with no name,” and we begin by dissecting his way of listening to our show before declaring we’re a tub talk recap podcast now. we discuss how the novel is a narrative of a frame of mind (and how that’s tied to the internet), what reading this book feels like, and the book’s humor and its profound sadness. we talk about the global thoughts darcie hits on and how it (maybe!) informs who she (the writer) is. we break down the grammar of the internet and being good at twitter and talk about seeing a familiar type of writing in an unexpected place. bob brags about his many online friends and compliments the novel’s immaculate structure. reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca liveblog by megan boyle neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

please note: this conversation contains spoilers for both mount chicago and the instructions. on today’s installment of tips and tricks to win the lottery, we talk to adam levin, author of mount chicago and the instructions. we compare adam levin to adam levine before talking about the literal influence of the adam’s writing (and how it feels like a magic trick) and the inclusion of pop culture in his work. adam schools bobby on charli xcx before they bond over james ellroy and before joey praises bobby in a ramble that doesn’t quite land on a question. adam talks about the intertwining nature of characters and narrators and face characters, how his childhood (and living near the john hughes suburbs) informed his writing, and how to make literature uncomfortable. we talk about bullying, the process of re-reading, and being surprised as a reader (and how rare that becomes). adam crafts a mini-module and shares his favorite delillo and roth novels. reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder the novelist by jordan castro 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca liveblog by megan boyle neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

we’re taking a slight detour this module (and returning to the work of adam levin) for a bonus episode about mount chicago. we compare mount chicago to the instructions, rank some birds, and hear why bob hates robert redford. we discuss autobiography as a metafictional trick, the idea of the “face” of a narrative, and finding context in an author’s work. we discuss behaviorism, acid and shitting, and beavers and ducks and alternate reality. joey praises entourage. bob makes a plea to adam levin before explaining his reading process. adam’s mini-module picks: europeana: a brief history of the twentieth century by patrik ouredník magnetic field(s) by ron loewinsohn inherited disorders: stories, parables & problems by adam ehrlich sachs the organs of sense by adam ehrlich sachs how to behave in a crowd by camille bordas ghost engine by christian tebordo the apology by christian tebordo the divers’ game by jesse ball autoportrait by jesse ball autoportrait by edouard leve reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca liveblog by megan boyle neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

we continued our season about the internet last week with katie runde’s the shore, and today we’re talking to katie about the jersey shore, boardwalk games, and catfishing your mom. we talk about how to avoid writing misery porn, different generations of internet, and the types of deception the characters in the shore embody. katie talks about how her life experiences (and tech advancements) shifted the narrative as she wrote the book. we talk about mount airy lodge. joey demands a favor. katie’s mini-module picks, themed around the shore: we are not ourselves by matthew thomas goodbye vitamin by rachel khong the swimmers by julie otsuka smacked by eilene zimmerman rock the boat by beck dorey-stein the girl’s guide to hunting and fishing by melissa bank reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca liveblog by megan boyle neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

our internet module continues as we seek community in online forums and talk about the shore by katie runde. after struggling with scheduling details that no one needs to know or care about, we talk about the epistolary nature of the shore (and the timeless quality of that). bob does a terrible james joyce impression and we talk about the american sniper, chris kyle. we discuss the ethics of our online existence, whether the end punts on the hard stuff (and if it matters), and how closely the novel reflects shore life. reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca liveblog by megan boyle neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

we kicked off our third season with a touch of jen by beth morgan, and today we’re talking to beth about her novel. we find out what she thinks of the internet, her thoughts on the novel’s specific time and place, and how she wanted to subvert the hero’s journey. bobby and beth talk about exclamation points before she psychoanalyzes him for receiving this book as a gift. beth discusses the movies that shaped the way she wrote the novel, joey brings up nicolas cage with bangs, and bobby is happy to accept “no” for an answer. beth talks about getting frustrated about the possibilities on this plane of existence.

we're kicking off our season about the internet with a touch of jen by beth morgan. we start by naming famous remys, wondering who the titular "jen" is, and work through a loud groan coming from outside joey's house. we talk about despising remy (yet relating to him), being caught off guard by the novel's unexpected twists, and trying to make sense of the novel's third act. joey talks about why he loved it (spoilers!) and bobby compliments beth morgan on her use the exclamation point (and her ability to adapt internet conversations into the novel). we talk about how season three of our podcast is different from the first two. joey embarrasses bob. a new emailer appears. reading list for season three a touch of jen by beth morgan the shore by katie runde literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder 17776 by jon bois snow crash by neal stephenson no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood amygdalatropolis by b r yeager shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca liveblog by megan boyle neuromancer by william gibson fake accounts by lauren oyler we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

we’re following up last week’s episode on teenager by bud smith by talking to bud about his work (and his friendship with bobby). we talk about new jersey, bud rejecting bobby’s criticisms of a previous draft of teenager, and bud’s process of re-writing (and re-typing) his novel. bud shares thoughts on writing to keep yourself interested (and surprised), lessons learned from teaching writing, and working with his wife rae buleri on the novel’s art. we all struggle to pronounce a word. bud shares picks for his mini-module: don quixote by miguel de cervantes saavedra norwood by charles portis lonesome dove by larry mcmurtry short letter, long farewell by peter handke fair play by tove jansson to the lighthouse by virginia woolf

our campus season (officially) wraps up with teenager by bud smith, which follows the first how to win the lottery field trip. after serge gainsbourg drops by, we talk about elvis, the “lovers on the run” template, and how the book dissects american systems failing people. we talk about the novel’s underlying darkness, its cinematic nature, and how it demystifies grand american myths. our podcast finds a new villain, we imagine teenager as a movie (and a video game), and we talk about “famous cuck ned carson.” reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19 either/or by elif batuman, 6/2 teenager by bud smith, 6/16

campus season continues with either/or, our second elif batuman novel in a row, and this time, we’re following selin’s sophomore year at harvard. we talk about how selin’s story is an unusual (in a good way!) type of book series and how these novels manage to capture the american experience of late adolescence. we talk about noticeable growth within selin, debate her level of agency in the story, and talk about how much she reads — and how it influences her. we also talk about the novel’s darkness, its “boy crazy” section, and how it seems to divorce kierkegaard from religion. do we live ethical or aesthetic lives? how will selin grow in a third novel? reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19 either/or by elif batuman, 6/2 teenager by bud smith, 6/16

surprise! the idiot by elif batuman is no longer our season finale, as she wrote another book about selin that we'll cover next episode: either/or. today, though, we're kicking things off with the (presumed?) start of a series as we discuss autofiction, bob's embrace of "boring" as a theme, and yet another book about language (including, finally, math as a language!). we note the importance of it being set in the 1990s, appreciate yet another narrator native to new jersey, and talk about how terrible ivan is. we admire the book's humor and discuss its feelings of isolation and its near-total lack of politics. bob mentions the book of wall, mankind's great unpublished piece of art. joey confuses the belushi brothers. reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19 either/or by elif batuman, 6/2 teenager by bud smith, 6/16

in spite of this episode about the instructions by adam levin being our longest episode to date (by far!), it still feels woefully incomplete. how do you sum up more than 1,000 pages? it turns out… it’s very difficult! there are backroom deliberations about a second episode about the instructions, but for now… we talk about our youngest protagonists so far, yet ones who speak and act and seem like adults. we look at the role the parents play in the novel, ways to read (or interpret) this novel, and the “almost literal magic” that bob finds in the text. we talk about the novel’s humor, violence, villainy, and sadness. we also wonder: is gurion the messiah? does the violence go too far? is this the best book of the 21st century? reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

real life by brandon taylor continues our journey through the campus semester of our podcast and marks our most recent release in this module. after another seamless opening to the podcast, we dive into the “largely autobiographical” novel and discuss how how quickly brandon taylor wrote it (which bob likens to “a guy puking, in the best way”). we compare the novel to the works of bret easton ellis and edward albee and admire taylor’s descriptions of science and tennis. we talk about the novel’s take on racism, homophobia, and misogyny. joey stumbles in recalling an ambrose bierce story (“the coup de grace,” which you can read here). we discuss the classic tv programs “baggage” and “elimidate.” bob describes how he picks books for the show. we take a ride in a time machine to cast an adaptation. reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

campus season continues with college novel by blake middleton, and today’s episode includes our first-ever author interview! we welcome in blake at the top of the show, where he immediately roasts bob and sets a great tone for the interview. bob then tries to re-establish his tough guy (and jacksonville) bona fides before we talk about jag lites and florida man. we ask blake about the time and place and era and feeling that the novel takes place in, as well as jeb! and zach braff. blake talks about learning to bartend (and joey suggests he watch cocktail, which bob does not agree to) before blake gives us the “middleton mini module” of books he’d recommend. he also shares his troubles in daytona beach and we all bemoan the death of the cinematic romcom. after we say goodbye to blake, we talk about the “flat style” of mid-2010s alt-lit, compare it to fleur jaeggy’s sweet days of discipline, and reflect on the variation of campus stories this semester. we talk about movies to pair this episode with, the relatability of the characters, and just how flat-out funny the novel is. bob has an issue coming up with new crimes. the middleton mini module: everything is totally fine by zac smith, venice by t.j. larkey, hehehehe by g.g. roland, imbibe! by david wondrich. reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

campus season continues with sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, our shortest book covered on the podcast so far. after a brief spin-off to “how to score some pottery,” we catch up with shreds and see where reading ranks in his favorite pastimes. we explore some surprising (?) facts about the author and history of the book, talk about goodreads’ description of this as “witchy,” and discuss reading books in translation and whether not the language is “stilted.” bob talks about prose style. we talk about the absence of conflict (and how this plays out in both movies and books), we note an ongoing trend seen throughout this season, and we wonder what we could pair with this for the patreon. reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

we’ve got a new release bonus episode coming at you today as we take on the novel devil house by john darnielle. we talk about darnielle’s place in shape and form of our podcast (as well as how his books are of a type), as well as how devil house asks for an uncommon type of empathy. we examine the novel as a takedown of true crime (and rubbernecking?), wonder who the “real” victims are in true crime cases, and explore our collective need for narrative closure. we take true crime filmmakers to task for being irresponsible. joey re-establishes himself as someone who gets everything wrong about nerds. reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

the secret history by donna tartt is a seminal campus novel and the subject of today’s episode. it’s a book we’ve both read before, and likely the best book (so far) this season. after a chaotic kitten interlude, we dive into the trouble history of adapting this novel (featuring car accidents both real and imagined) and explore the impact of bennington college’s writers. bob talks through an idea for an elaborate netflix series. we both share our wildly different casting ideas. bob explains how the secret history is “marxism all the way down” and has a foot in genre literature. we pay respect to one of the all-time greats (judy poovey). we relate to richard’s time spent in a freezing warehouse. we make a plea to our patrons, both current and future. reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

bob wasn’t available for this episode so joey and “shred” (or “shreds”) do their best in his absence to cover loner by teddy wayne. we discuss following an unlikeable narrator in david federman (and compare him to bruce bennett-jones of the virgins) in a surprise (?) thriller this season. we compare it to the netflix series “you.” we shout out chris christie and talk about lessons learned from american pie. shreds shares a fun fact about reddit, then leads an interlude while joey takes a kitten break. egg outs herself as a nerd in the mailbag segment. reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

the stadium lights are on this week as we talk about football, warfare, and language in all things in end zone by don delillo. it’s another book we’ve both read, and maybe joey’s favorite book (!). we talk about the narrative’s lack of antagonism and end zone as a “hangout book.” we discuss the mysticism of taft robinson and how discussing the erasure of language makes you wake up to the things that matter. we wonder about the weird ending. bob compares myna to emily ratajkowski and tells stories about infuriating science professors. we also wonder: is this adaptable? reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

our campus season continues with the most abstract interpretation of a campus yet in giles goat-boy by john barth, which is joey's least favorite book he's ever read. we talk about the post-modern structure of the narrative, wonder what it's satirizing, and try to parse the meaning of its metaphors. we also talk about how bob totally goofed on the scheduling of this book in our season, the literal process of getting through harder literature, and what "passed" and "flunked" really mean. bob has an idea for tattoos for us to get. we find silver linings in giles goat-boy. bob spoils speed racer. we unveil our new year's resolutions. reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

the campus season (real missed opportunity for #sponcon by not calling it the education season) continues with my education by susan choi. it’s the second book this season bob hasn’t read, and we’re noticing a troubling pattern beginning to emerge. we talk about bob’s issues with cool people from the early 90s, how this book could also fit into our omnipresent “horny” module, and put an abrupt end to our newest segment. we also talk about a the continuing lack of predatorial descriptions in “taboo” relationships we’ve seen this season, choi’s decision to skip over interesting moments via time jumps, and my education‘s confounding third act. reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

the virgins by pamela erens marks new ground for the podcast: it’s the first book we’ve both read before. does that mean we’ll have more insightful thoughts to share? don’t bet on it! after talking about our new year’s resolutions, bob talks about the movie it’s complicated for a while before we regret not using this book as a backdoor pilot for our inevitable “horny” module. we wonder if there’s a sex move called “the mandalorian,” we lay out how the novel would end if it were a mystery, and we compare bruce bennett-jones to dennis reynolds. bob shares his one issue with the book (as well as the unbelievability of the in-class scene in the text) and we explore the recurring themes we’re beginning to notice this season. reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

season two continues onward as we head back in time (for a difficult read) as we talk about the nickel boys by colson whitehead. we talk about the benefits of re-reading books (especially when they contain genre-style twists unusual in a narrative like this), the overly trusting nature of the main character, and how the nickel boys contains all the elements of a traditional prison narrative. we also explore colson whitehead’s work and what it means when black americans do everything “right” (and yet it doesn’t matter) and then talk about tim heidecker for a little while. reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

we're headed out to the baseball diamond for today's episode of how to win the lottery as we talk about the art of fielding by chad harbach. after bobby shares a big announcement he should have saved for our patreon, we talk about harbach's ability to capture the beauty of baseball and write a book about predation without really writing a book about predation. we also try to figure out who the main character is in the art of fielding (a question compounded by a bold move that the book makes) and talk about the terrifying nature of an inciting incident in the narrative. then, we welcome in the honorable judge matt erdely to judge a book by its cover (and to get a world series preview for a matchup that will have concluded long before this episode is released) before bobby talks about his "unbelievably handsome man" of a teacher as we try to cast guert affenlight. reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

we continue our campus season with prep by curtis sittenfeld, the first book on the pod that’s new to bobby. we talk about its spanning breadth (in a relatively tight package), lee as a reluctant and naive narrator, and our the novel’s lack of narrative darkness. we also talk about how unsexy prep is (and whether that’s good or bad), who high school books are actually written for, and the elements of class and race contained in the novel. also: bobby absolutely refuses to do the one job he’s been tasked with (but continues to relate everything to the o.c.) and we unveil both our wiki-based plan for world podcast domination and the secret tagline we’ve always had for the show. reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

we're kicking off the second season (campus-themed!) of how to win the lottery with sylvia plath's classic novel the bell jar. (content warning: this book and this discussion contain references to suicide and suicidal thoughts.) we talk about the relatability of the protagonist, even 60 years later, and how the story (and its characters and societal issues) are largely timeless. we also discuss parallels to the catcher in the rye (as well as possible reasons as to why that book is taught in schools and the bell jar is largely not) before bob lists the men he's sexually attracted to and sniffs out some nonsense numerology. also: we have (our first?) on-air fight. reading list for season two the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4 prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18 the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2 nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16 the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30 my education by susan choi, 1/13 giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27 end zone by don delillo, 2/10 loner by teddy wayne, 2/24 the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10 sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24 college novel by blake middleton, 4/7 real life by brandon taylor, 4/21 the instructions by adam levin, 5/5 the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19