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Arts
Kimberly Ford
If you love to read, The Foxed Page is for you. With these deep dives into the best books, you’ll gain a richer understanding of the title at hand, all while learning to read everything better. Choose from long-form lectures, quick recommendations, talks on old favorites and plenty of episodes from the archives. Listen to The Foxed Page--with Kimberly Ford, best-selling author, former adjunct professor and Ph.D.
Total 124 episodes
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REPOST:  5-Minute Recommendation for Claire Keegan’s FOSTER >> Loving the tv series SAY NOTHING?? This masterful (very short) novel  might be even more engrossing!

REPOST: 5-Minute Recommendation for Claire Keegan’s FOSTER >> Loving the tv series SAY NOTHING?? This masterful (very short) novel might be even more engrossing!

Kimberly will share whether you should—or should not—dig into Foster. She’ll treat you to a snippet of the prose to give you a sense, but for a deeper analysis, check out the lecture.
07:3622/11/2024
REPOST: Claire Keegan's FOSTER >> Anyone loving SAY NOTHING should take the (minimal) time to read this INCREDIBLE (and very short) novel.

REPOST: Claire Keegan's FOSTER >> Anyone loving SAY NOTHING should take the (minimal) time to read this INCREDIBLE (and very short) novel.

This very brief novella is a masterclass of the form. You will be so moved by this amazing, slight masterpiece. In part one, Kimberly will argue why you should read it, take a quick dip into Keegan’s bio., and discuss the title and opening pages.
41:0722/11/2024
Lecture 76: Phillipe Besson's LIE WITH ME >> translated by the one and only MOLLY RINGWALD!

Lecture 76: Phillipe Besson's LIE WITH ME >> translated by the one and only MOLLY RINGWALD!

Kimberly had never read Besson--and didn't know Ringwald was translating!--but she loved this brief, beautiful novel. Listen in as she touches on the very un-american phenomenon of autofiction, before diving into the fascinating structural choices, the beauty of the spare prose and why Besson is SO GOOD AT SEX WRITING. She'll even offer up interesting translation differences and the novel's details that Ringwald (mostly judiciously) chose to leave out.
58:4811/11/2024
Lecture 75: James Baldwin's GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN >> This masterpiece deserves the deepest of dives. Join Kimberly to sink in to its genius!

Lecture 75: James Baldwin's GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN >> This masterpiece deserves the deepest of dives. Join Kimberly to sink in to its genius!

Often considered Baldwin's masterpiece, this slim, somewhat autobiographical novel is SO GOOD. Listen in now to hear how the structure, the narrative voice and the final chapter make this an incredible, important read.
01:16:3414/10/2024
Lecture 74: Gabriel García Márquez's ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE >> If you're one of the millions who love this book--or if you didn't quite get all the hype--listen in to Kimberly's take on why it's massively important.

Lecture 74: Gabriel García Márquez's ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE >> If you're one of the millions who love this book--or if you didn't quite get all the hype--listen in to Kimberly's take on why it's massively important.

Garcia Marquez changed literature with the 1967 publication of this surreal, ultra-popular, deeply engaging novel. Kimberly LOVED diving in to the context in which it was written, the way it fits into literary movements and why it's so groundbreaking. And if you're one of the people who couldn't keep all the generations of José Arcadios and Aurelianos straight, Kimberly will reveal a grad-school level secret that will help with this novel--and every challenging book you read.
53:4414/10/2024
Old Favorite 5: NANCY DREW as Intriguing Cultural Phenomenon! >> Did you know that the Nancy Drew books were radically rewritten 20 years after publication? Listen in to this fascinating indication of cultural differences!

Old Favorite 5: NANCY DREW as Intriguing Cultural Phenomenon! >> Did you know that the Nancy Drew books were radically rewritten 20 years after publication? Listen in to this fascinating indication of cultural differences!

NO PRE-READING REQUIRED! Kimberly had no idea that the Nancy Drew we all read as kids was seriously different from the 1930 original. This kind of re-writing is always a fascinating window into American culture--but the real fun here is how GOOD these books are. Whether you're a fan or not, listen in to hear what most of us missed about these iconic bestsellers!
35:0230/09/2024
Lecture 73: Robin Wall Kimmerer's BRAIDING SWEETGRASS >> Did you love this when it came out? Did you mean to read it but didn't quite? Allow Kimberly to remind you of the CRUCIAL WISDOM Wall Kimmerer imparts!

Lecture 73: Robin Wall Kimmerer's BRAIDING SWEETGRASS >> Did you love this when it came out? Did you mean to read it but didn't quite? Allow Kimberly to remind you of the CRUCIAL WISDOM Wall Kimmerer imparts!

Braiding Sweetgrass is one of those books we should be going back to again and again. If you don't quite have the time to do that, Kimberly will give you a hand. Want to feel like you could maybe help make the world a slightly better place in some small way?? Want to feel better about the environment?? Want to feel inspired and informed--with sometimes RADICAL new ways to conceptualize the world? Listen in!
32:4223/09/2024
Enriched Read 8: Ann Patchett's TOM LAKE--and OUR TOWN! >> Whether you loved TOM LAKE or were underwhelmed, just wait till you see it in the light of Our Town!

Enriched Read 8: Ann Patchett's TOM LAKE--and OUR TOWN! >> Whether you loved TOM LAKE or were underwhelmed, just wait till you see it in the light of Our Town!

At the end of TOM LAKE, Ann Patchett exhorts readers to return to the work of Thornton Wilder--so Kimberly did! She LOVED her deep dive into the hugely influential 1938 classic, OUR TOWN. You'll hear analysis of the novel, with a whole section devoted to how the incredibly affecting OUR TOWN inflects Patchett's novel. Lastly? You'll then be treated to some seriously inspiring quotations by Wilder himself.
01:10:1516/09/2024
REPOST: History and satire in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE >> NO READING REQUIRED >> Dive into Jane's historical period--while seeing her as a true SATIRIST--to more FULLY appreciate her genius!

REPOST: History and satire in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE >> NO READING REQUIRED >> Dive into Jane's historical period--while seeing her as a true SATIRIST--to more FULLY appreciate her genius!

Kimberly dips into the Regency Era--don't remember why it's called that? tune in!--then digs into Jane's use of irony and satire to appreciate why the work is so revolutionary, so deft and SO FUNNY.
01:02:0712/09/2024
Lecture 72: Rachel Cusk's OUTLINE >> Maybe you have lingering questions about the insanely great, entirely original aspects of OUTLINE? Listen up!

Lecture 72: Rachel Cusk's OUTLINE >> Maybe you have lingering questions about the insanely great, entirely original aspects of OUTLINE? Listen up!

Cusk's radical approach to the novel makes OUTLINE the perfect text for serious exploration. Its innovative approach to narrative, structure and even basic description meant plenty of grist for Kimberly's mill. Whether you loved OUTLINE or were left wondering what the hell just happened--prepare for some serious edification.
58:4109/09/2024
Lecture 71: THE PERFECT COUPLE!! The novel AND TV ADAPTATION! >> On Sept 5, Netflix will air what looks like an AMAZING, star-studded, darkly comic HIT! Listen in to why the NOVEL will translate so well to the small screen!

Lecture 71: THE PERFECT COUPLE!! The novel AND TV ADAPTATION! >> On Sept 5, Netflix will air what looks like an AMAZING, star-studded, darkly comic HIT! Listen in to why the NOVEL will translate so well to the small screen!

Listen in to Kimberly explaining why Hilderbrand's dialogue, structuring, subplots and sense of place will make this show SO GOOD. With juicy details gleaned from lots of sleuthing, Kimberly will get you ready to watch on SEPTEMBER 5!
01:03:0702/09/2024
REPOST: BACK-to-SCHOOL with the (shockingly deep and complex) WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE >> Let Kimberly reveal some very adult reasons why this "childhood" favorite has sold over 50M copies and remains a global household staple.

REPOST: BACK-to-SCHOOL with the (shockingly deep and complex) WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE >> Let Kimberly reveal some very adult reasons why this "childhood" favorite has sold over 50M copies and remains a global household staple.

NO READING REQUIRED! Turns out that everyone's favorite picture book is a psychologically complex, highly psychoanalytic, controversial TREASURE TROVE of literary and visual mastery. Listen in! **If you've never watched a lecture on the foxed page YouTube channel, this is a particularly good one, given the plethora of images that help elucidate the visual side of Sendak's genius.**
01:07:2629/08/2024
Lecture 70: Gregoire Bouillier's THE MYSTERY GUEST >> You asked for more international books! This short French riff on Mrs. Dalloway is a REALLY GOOD ONE!

Lecture 70: Gregoire Bouillier's THE MYSTERY GUEST >> You asked for more international books! This short French riff on Mrs. Dalloway is a REALLY GOOD ONE!

NO SPOILERS! NO READING NECESSARY! Kimberly comes to you from a wine cellar with a nervous dog to discuss autofiction and how the French are more relaxed about TRUTH than Americans. The Mystery Guest is intriguing, darkly funny and SO SHORT! If you're casting about for something to read and want something different--listen in!
48:4026/08/2024
REPOST: James Joyce’s DUBLINERS >> Feeling a little back-to-school? Maybe a little tired of beach-read mode?? This NO-READING-REQUIRED lecture on Joyce is the antidote!

REPOST: James Joyce’s DUBLINERS >> Feeling a little back-to-school? Maybe a little tired of beach-read mode?? This NO-READING-REQUIRED lecture on Joyce is the antidote!

Kimberly focuses on creepy, haunting “An Encounter” before her deep dive into the keystone work, the subtle, sad, masterful “The Dead.” Find out how Joyce’s prose changed the face of literature, and how his portrayal of the Irish is actually a portrayal of EVERYONE.
01:36:5422/08/2024
Lecture 69: Liz Moore's THE GOD OF THE WOODS >> Feel like you fully appreciated what makes this thriller so good? Kimberly wants to point out a few points when you might've been too engrossed to notice!

Lecture 69: Liz Moore's THE GOD OF THE WOODS >> Feel like you fully appreciated what makes this thriller so good? Kimberly wants to point out a few points when you might've been too engrossed to notice!

NO SPOILERS! (Obviously. It's s thriller.) This novel was so well done that Kimberly couldn't wait to analyze all the reasons it works so well. The most fun, though, might have been picking out the exceptions that prove the rule: Liz Moore is so good!
01:08:2519/08/2024
REPOST: Rachel Khong's GOODBYE, VITAMIN >> You've seen REAL AMERICANS on every bookstore front table lately? That's because Khong is SO GOOD. Listen in to hear what makes Khong's work so approachable, smart and deeply affecting.

REPOST: Rachel Khong's GOODBYE, VITAMIN >> You've seen REAL AMERICANS on every bookstore front table lately? That's because Khong is SO GOOD. Listen in to hear what makes Khong's work so approachable, smart and deeply affecting.

Kimberly loved GOODBYE, VITAMIN so much that she's elated to see Khong's latest getting so much attention. Until Kimberly works through her stack and gets to REAL AMERICANS, listen in to this 30-minute intro to Khong's bio, her prose, and all the ways that the opening page of GOODBYE will help you more fully appreciate her insanely great work.
33:3015/08/2024
Enriched Read 6: SATIRE in LONG ISLAND COMPROMISE (also feat. Lorrie Moore, Paul Beatty and Andrew Sean Greer!)

Enriched Read 6: SATIRE in LONG ISLAND COMPROMISE (also feat. Lorrie Moore, Paul Beatty and Andrew Sean Greer!)

Have you got a pretty good sense of what satire's all about? But could maybe use a breakdown about WHY it works well? And WHEN it works well? Join Kimberly for a close look at Taffy Brodessor-Akner's LONG ISLAND COMPROMISE to understand this delicious literary mode. We'll take a close look at LONG ISLAND, while also getting a bit broader with Andrew Sean Greer's LESS, Lorrie Moore's SELF HELP and Paul Beatty's THE SELLOUT. Enrich yourself now!
01:00:3312/08/2024
Lecture 68: James Baldwin's GIOVANNI'S ROOM >> It's a crime that Kimberly JUST read this novel for the first time. She was shocked at the crazy abundance of figurative language. Take a listen to more fully COMPREHEND this slim book!

Lecture 68: James Baldwin's GIOVANNI'S ROOM >> It's a crime that Kimberly JUST read this novel for the first time. She was shocked at the crazy abundance of figurative language. Take a listen to more fully COMPREHEND this slim book!

There are SO many reasons to read (or REREAD) this slim, gorgeous, Paris-based novel. Kimberly argues that an amazing way to more fully understand the book is to view it through Baldwin's genius use of figurative language. Listen in now!
58:2608/08/2024
Lecture 67: Kimberly's TOP TEN books of the 21st century! >> The New York Times did NOT ask Kimberly for her top ten when they made their list, but here they are! Tune in to see how your favorites compare!

Lecture 67: Kimberly's TOP TEN books of the 21st century! >> The New York Times did NOT ask Kimberly for her top ten when they made their list, but here they are! Tune in to see how your favorites compare!

It was VERY hard for Kimberly to decide on a top ten. So there are five runners-up. She assumed it would be impossible to RANK the top ten, but in a spur-of-the-moment decision, she attempts it. Tune in to see how your list compares!
26:2605/08/2024
REPOST: DEMON COPPERHEAD>> Have you read the NYT best of the century title #61?? Were you a reader who voted it NUMBER ONE on the readers' list? Listen in if you want to better understand WHY it's so good!

REPOST: DEMON COPPERHEAD>> Have you read the NYT best of the century title #61?? Were you a reader who voted it NUMBER ONE on the readers' list? Listen in if you want to better understand WHY it's so good!

NO PRE-READING REQUIRED! Allow Kimberly to help you revel in this gem--all while increasing your appreciation by pointing out the echoes of Dickens's David Copperfield.
43:5901/08/2024
Lecture 66: Lucia Berlin's A MANUAL FOR CLEANING WOMEN >> Kimberly would almost give this an ELEVEN. Listen in as she explains why this collection deserves to be read over and over and over again!

Lecture 66: Lucia Berlin's A MANUAL FOR CLEANING WOMEN >> Kimberly would almost give this an ELEVEN. Listen in as she explains why this collection deserves to be read over and over and over again!

People. This collection is SO FUNNY and SO DARK. It's unlike any other writing. Whether you've read it or are considering diving in after the book was selected as one of the best of the century, listen in as Kimberly helps understand how this woman pulls it OFF.
49:1529/07/2024
Lecture 65: FORTY-SIX of the New York Times's 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE CENTURY >> Have you read the same titles as Kimberly? Is she about to deeply offend you by panning your favorite?? Listen in to see!

Lecture 65: FORTY-SIX of the New York Times's 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE CENTURY >> Have you read the same titles as Kimberly? Is she about to deeply offend you by panning your favorite?? Listen in to see!

Kimberly zips through the 46 books she's read, giving a rating to every one. Check it OUT!
49:0525/07/2024
Lecture 64c: Salinger's FRANNY AND ZOOEY (but mostly "Zooey") >> Ever wondered why Salinger is SO ENDURING? And what's actually going on with Franny?? Kimberly's about to offer up some answers.

Lecture 64c: Salinger's FRANNY AND ZOOEY (but mostly "Zooey") >> Ever wondered why Salinger is SO ENDURING? And what's actually going on with Franny?? Kimberly's about to offer up some answers.

We wrap up SALINGER WEEK with a deep dive into "Zooey" (the story) along with a good hard look at FRANNY AND ZOOEY as a whole. This third and final lecture offers up all sorts of gems--from the source of Franny's crisis to a wider look at why Salinger's prose is so incredibly ENDURING.
57:4522/07/2024
Lecture 64b: J. D. Salinger's "A PERFECT DAY FOR BANANAFISH" >> If you love FRANNY AND ZOOEY but don't REALLY know this story, you must listen in!

Lecture 64b: J. D. Salinger's "A PERFECT DAY FOR BANANAFISH" >> If you love FRANNY AND ZOOEY but don't REALLY know this story, you must listen in!

"Franny" and "Zooey" (and Franny and Zooey) depend on many important (but subtle) ways upon Seymour Glass. Published in the New Yorker in 1948, "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" introduces us to Seymour--in the moments before his death. Even in his absence, Seymour is foundational for the entire Glass Family. He might be MOST crucial to the youngest Glasses, Franny and Zooey. If you love the book FRANNY AND ZOOEY, a deep dive into "Bananafish" will make you love it even more!
01:00:3419/07/2024
Lecture 64a: J. D. Salinger's FRANNY AND ZOOEY (but really just "Franny") >> Even if you haven't read this GEM of a book, tune in to see what makes Salinger's prose SO GOOD.

Lecture 64a: J. D. Salinger's FRANNY AND ZOOEY (but really just "Franny") >> Even if you haven't read this GEM of a book, tune in to see what makes Salinger's prose SO GOOD.

This deep dive is SO deep that Kimberly needs a whole lecture just to discuss "Franny." The first 40 pages of FRANNY AND ZOOEY is not only amazing, but the perfect way to look at what makes all of Salinger's prose so unmistakably SALINGER. (A second Salinger lecture will tackle "A Perfect Day for Bananafish," then we'll dive all the way in to the hugely popular FRANNY AND ZOOEY.)
01:36:3815/07/2024
Lecture 63b: Akbar's MARTYR! (the ENDING) >> If you think you fully understood the nuance of Kaveh Akbar's (possible double) ending, you might be crazy.

Lecture 63b: Akbar's MARTYR! (the ENDING) >> If you think you fully understood the nuance of Kaveh Akbar's (possible double) ending, you might be crazy.

Allow Kimberly to point out the intricacies, the nuance, the FACTS of what Akbar is really saying at the end of his insanely great novel. Tune in to hear Kimberly argue a few sides of this coin. She follows Daniel Mendelsohn's advice to treat literature like a social science: look carefully at the DATA. If you're like all the folks on the internet who have real questions about this novel's close, you're in the right place.
54:2111/07/2024
Lecture 63a: Kaveh Akbar's MARTYR! >> Anyone who thinks they've comprehended this masterpiece in one read is insane. Allow Kimberly to help you appreciate why it deserves extensive further thought!

Lecture 63a: Kaveh Akbar's MARTYR! >> Anyone who thinks they've comprehended this masterpiece in one read is insane. Allow Kimberly to help you appreciate why it deserves extensive further thought!

People. This is one of the most intense reading experiences Kimberly has had in ages. The book is so smart, so warm and funny and complicated, that Kimberly realized it deserves two lectures! This first one focuses on the narrative stance, the inventiveness, the humor and complicated compendium-like structure (and a possible small debt to David Foster Wallace). The SECOND lecture (coming soon) tackles the novel's insanely great, ambiguous, enigmatic ENDING.
01:22:5408/07/2024
Lecture 62: Elin Hilderbrand's SWAN SONG >> Have an extra good time with the queen of the beach read's LAST NANTUCKET NOVEL.

Lecture 62: Elin Hilderbrand's SWAN SONG >> Have an extra good time with the queen of the beach read's LAST NANTUCKET NOVEL.

NO SPOILERS! What's summer without a good beach read? By the QUEEN of the beach read?? Kimberly was somewhat alarmed that Hilderbrand is "hanging up her bikini" but thank god we have 26 other Nantucket novels to choose from. People, Hilderbrand is SO GOOD at this stuff. Listen in to find out why her narrative stance, atmospheric elements and structure make these books so solid. (Also: Kimberly has just a few teeny quibbles). There's no such thing as "guilty pleasure" where Hilderbrand is concerned--she's just so good at this stuff!
01:10:4705/07/2024
Lecture 61: F. Scott Fitzgerald's THE GREAT GATSBY >> Did you love this classic in sophomore English? Allow Kimberly to lead you down literary memory lane with this 4th-of-July meditation on the AMERICAN DREAM!

Lecture 61: F. Scott Fitzgerald's THE GREAT GATSBY >> Did you love this classic in sophomore English? Allow Kimberly to lead you down literary memory lane with this 4th-of-July meditation on the AMERICAN DREAM!

Fitzgerald's genius might very well be wasted on the youth. Even if you haven't re-read this classic since you were 16, delving into for an hour is a revelation. Kimberly breaks down the innovative narrative stance, the plot-heavy structure and some master-class motif building--all while reveling in (and also subtly criticizing) this modernist MASTERPIECE.
01:10:1601/07/2024
Lecture 60: Miranda July's ALL FOURS >> Have you heard? ALL FOURS is creating a revolution!

Lecture 60: Miranda July's ALL FOURS >> Have you heard? ALL FOURS is creating a revolution!

ALL FOURS is changing how we think about sex, maternity, marriage--and towels. Touted by the New York Times as "the first great peri-menopause novel," it's July's most accessible, most hilarious and most "filthy" (in the best of ways) work. Listen in while Kimberly uses the lens of humor to appreciate the pathos, the sex, the iconoclasm and the tension in this IMPORTANT BOOK.
01:27:0124/06/2024
REPOST: Arthur Lobel’s FROG AND TOAD >> Kimberly hates to self-aggrandize, but this might be some of her finest work.

REPOST: Arthur Lobel’s FROG AND TOAD >> Kimberly hates to self-aggrandize, but this might be some of her finest work.

Kimberly adds her voice to the important chorus extolling Frog and Toad. She explains how structure, monosyllabic word choice, vowel sounds and syntax all combine to result in PROFOUND resonance. She also illuminates how queer elements of the work make reading Lobel not only a nostalgic delight, but an important act.
44:0321/06/2024
Enriched Read 6: LORD BYRON and BILLY (collins)! >> Explore POETRY with a close reading of Byron to more appreciate our uber-popular former-poet-laureate, Billy Collins

Enriched Read 6: LORD BYRON and BILLY (collins)! >> Explore POETRY with a close reading of Byron to more appreciate our uber-popular former-poet-laureate, Billy Collins

Who knew that Collins wrote his doctoral dissertation on the romantic poets?? Tune in to hear Kimberly break down the Romantic Movement and Byron's "She Walks in Beauty"--all in preparation to more fully appreciate our nation's "most popular poet"!
45:1717/06/2024
Lecture 59: Nicholson Baker's THE ANTHOLOGIST >> Do you love poetry? Do you WISH you loved poetry?? This hilarious, inspirational novel will hook you up!

Lecture 59: Nicholson Baker's THE ANTHOLOGIST >> Do you love poetry? Do you WISH you loved poetry?? This hilarious, inspirational novel will hook you up!

Kimberly does not love poetry. Which she considers a personal failure. But it turns out that she LOVES hearing Paul Chowder, narrator of this novel, teach her all about poetry. If you need a lift, and love hilarious, smart books--listen in!
01:05:5413/06/2024
Episode 58: Alice Munro's LIVES OF GIRLS AND WOMEN >> Allow Kimberly to deepen your appreciation of this NOBEL-WINNER's only novel!

Episode 58: Alice Munro's LIVES OF GIRLS AND WOMEN >> Allow Kimberly to deepen your appreciation of this NOBEL-WINNER's only novel!

LIVES OF GIRLS AND WOMEN is Munro's only novel AND it's the ideal way to really dig in to her genius. Listen in now!
01:18:3910/06/2024
REPOST: Daniel Mason's NORTH WOODS >> Is this sitting on your nightstand?? Dust it off! Kimberly's about to tell you all the reasons you'll LOVE this book.

REPOST: Daniel Mason's NORTH WOODS >> Is this sitting on your nightstand?? Dust it off! Kimberly's about to tell you all the reasons you'll LOVE this book.

NO READING NECESSARY! Think of this talk as a primer that will ensure you won't miss any of the ZILLION REASONS why North Woods was on all those best-of-2023 lists. This novel is so engrossing and wide reaching. It's smart and rich and just plain fun to read. Listen as Kimberly points out aspects you do not want to miss. Already read it? You'll love this even more!
01:24:5607/06/2024
Lecture 57: Hernán Díaz's TRUST >> Is it possible you missed some of the genius nuance in this four-books-in-one novel?? Whether you've read it or are gearing up to--Kimberly will make sure you get the MOST out of it.

Lecture 57: Hernán Díaz's TRUST >> Is it possible you missed some of the genius nuance in this four-books-in-one novel?? Whether you've read it or are gearing up to--Kimberly will make sure you get the MOST out of it.

Díaz's Pulitzer-prize-winning, Booker-nominated TRUST has the kind of complex structure Kimberly LOVES to dig into. With vastly differing narrative voices, each of the four texts informs the others, making for an insanely rich read. Also: this exploration of the American dream could not be more timely!
58:5003/06/2024
Lecture 56: Anita Brookner's HOTEL DU LAC >> Kimberly's pretty sure this will be her GO TO RECOMMENDATION for the summer. Hotel is THAT GOOD.

Lecture 56: Anita Brookner's HOTEL DU LAC >> Kimberly's pretty sure this will be her GO TO RECOMMENDATION for the summer. Hotel is THAT GOOD.

NO SPOILERS! NO RE-READING REQUIRED! Listen in to hear how Brookner's use of narrative voice, tons of figurative language and other plot elements make this novel--set in Switzerland--a must read.
01:06:3531/05/2024
Lecture 55: Alice Munro part 1: the PROSE  >> Have you heard of the Canadian legend and never read her? Or maybe she's your favorite writer? Listen in to hear what makes her hilarious, incisive, mold-breaking stories deserve a NOBEL.

Lecture 55: Alice Munro part 1: the PROSE >> Have you heard of the Canadian legend and never read her? Or maybe she's your favorite writer? Listen in to hear what makes her hilarious, incisive, mold-breaking stories deserve a NOBEL.

This lecture--the first in a three-part exploration of Munro--gets nitty gritty in all the best ways. Delve with Kimberly into the elements that make her prose feel like nothing else on the planet. Whether you've read everything she wrote, or you're new to her work, you'll come away with a much richer appreciation of this absolute genius.
01:03:4128/05/2024
REPOST: Cormac McCarthy's The Passenger and Stella Maris >> Buckle up, readers. Kimberly's finally indulging herself (and YOU) in an extra-deep-dive lecture on one of her favorite writers of all time.

REPOST: Cormac McCarthy's The Passenger and Stella Maris >> Buckle up, readers. Kimberly's finally indulging herself (and YOU) in an extra-deep-dive lecture on one of her favorite writers of all time.

Tune in for close readings that illuminate why McCarthy's prose is so gorgeous, why his influences are key, and why Kimberly is so happy about him finally centering A WOMAN in these, his final texts. Plus! A literary PARLOR TRICK that definitively proves Kimberly's hot-take thesis about digression in The Passenger.
01:51:0024/05/2024
Lecture 54: Joan Didion's DEMOCRACY >> Want to save democracy?? Just kidding. You'd have to do more than listen to this. But this Didion is incredibly timely--and RIVETING.

Lecture 54: Joan Didion's DEMOCRACY >> Want to save democracy?? Just kidding. You'd have to do more than listen to this. But this Didion is incredibly timely--and RIVETING.

If you love DIdion's inimitable prose and you're interested in any kind of history or intrigue or scandal--listen in. NO SPOILERS!
01:32:3220/05/2024
Lecture 53: Curtis Sittenfeld's ROMANTIC COMEDY >> Could you use a super-smart, hilarious, uplifting novel right about now? This is it!

Lecture 53: Curtis Sittenfeld's ROMANTIC COMEDY >> Could you use a super-smart, hilarious, uplifting novel right about now? This is it!

Sittenfeld is soooo good. Her latest delivers a fascinating, intimate look at life as a comedy writer on the world's foremost live, nighttime, sketch comedy show--all while promising that she'll work within the conventions of ROMANTIC comedy. Or will she?? Listen to Kimberly extol Sittenfeld's structure, the use of all five senses, the deft character development, excellent sex writing and, of course, the use of HUMOR. Get the most out of this novel whether you've finished it or want to see how to best approach the work. (NO SPOILERS!)
58:3517/05/2024
Lecture 52: André Aciman's CALL ME BY YOUR NAME and ENIGMA VARIATIONS >> Did you love the movie? Do you want to more fully comprehend the idea of the atmospheric novel before summer's upon us?? Listen in!

Lecture 52: André Aciman's CALL ME BY YOUR NAME and ENIGMA VARIATIONS >> Did you love the movie? Do you want to more fully comprehend the idea of the atmospheric novel before summer's upon us?? Listen in!

NO RE-READING NECESSARY! Kimberly only sought out Aciman because she loved the movie Call Me by Your Name--but she loved the fiction enough to seek out more. Tune in to hear about the use of figurative language, the structure, the pacing and the choice of details that make this work so ATMOSPHERIC.
01:05:4513/05/2024
Lecture 51: Nicholson Baker's FINDING A LIKENESS: HOW I GOT SOMEWHAT BETTER AT ART >> Are you an intelligent, creative person--maybe contemplating a next chapter or new endeavor? Baker's about the provide ALL THE INSPIRATION YOU NEED

Lecture 51: Nicholson Baker's FINDING A LIKENESS: HOW I GOT SOMEWHAT BETTER AT ART >> Are you an intelligent, creative person--maybe contemplating a next chapter or new endeavor? Baker's about the provide ALL THE INSPIRATION YOU NEED

Baker's hilarious, inventive prose melds with incredibly well curated images to produce something only Baker could produce. Kimberly LOVED diving in to the many ways in which the guy is creating literary (and visual) magic.
44:0310/05/2024
Lecture 50: John Steinbeck's EAST OF EDEN >> Want to see Kimberly conjure John Steinbeck from the dead?? Ever wondered why so many people LOVE EAST OF EDEN? Allow Kimberly to explain why it deserves to be such a perennial favorite. NO RE-READING REQUIRED!

Lecture 50: John Steinbeck's EAST OF EDEN >> Want to see Kimberly conjure John Steinbeck from the dead?? Ever wondered why so many people LOVE EAST OF EDEN? Allow Kimberly to explain why it deserves to be such a perennial favorite. NO RE-READING REQUIRED!

NO RE-READING REQUIRED! PLUS!! SPECIAL GUEST STAR: JOHN STEINBECK!! Tune in to hear all the ways in which this 1952 classic surprised Kimberly. Its insanely great sense of place, its lessons in history, its denigration/elevation of women, its biblical underpinnings...Kimberly's list of its attributes could go on and on. Whether EAST OF EDEN is your favorite of all time, or whether you have only hazy ninth-grade memories of Lenny squeezing that bunny in OF MICE AND MEN--tune in to hear why Steinbeck really deserved that Nobel Prize.
01:02:5006/05/2024
Lecture 38: R. F. Kuang's YELLOWFACE

Lecture 38: R. F. Kuang's YELLOWFACE

This publishing industry thriller was SUCH GOOD grist for Kimberly's mill. Listen in to appreciate all the elements that made the novel an "instant" best seller. Its literary merit is almost as great as the important philosophical questions is raises. This book is sooooo good.
01:15:2303/05/2024
Lecture 49: Stephen King's CARRIE >> Find out why King is worth serious literary respect, especially on the FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY of this iconic novel.

Lecture 49: Stephen King's CARRIE >> Find out why King is worth serious literary respect, especially on the FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY of this iconic novel.

If you can't remember what's ingenious about CARRIE's narrative stance, its sophisticated structure, its use of motif and of "scientific evidence"--you MUST TUNE IN to fully appreciate the genius King's first novel.
01:20:3429/04/2024
Lecture 48: Megan Nolan's ORDINARY HUMAN FAILINGS >> Looking for a thriller that's incredibly well written? Look no further!

Lecture 48: Megan Nolan's ORDINARY HUMAN FAILINGS >> Looking for a thriller that's incredibly well written? Look no further!

Join Kimberly to hear how this behind-the-scenes immersion in British tabloid journalism hits all the right notes. You'll come away with a deeper understanding of why Nolan's masterful narrative stance, pacing, character development and structure make this so much more than an excellent thriller.
01:13:3515/04/2024
REPOST: Lecture 7: Joan Didion’s The White Album Part 1 > Learn why Didion is such an icon and why her inimitable prose means so much to so many people!

REPOST: Lecture 7: Joan Didion’s The White Album Part 1 > Learn why Didion is such an icon and why her inimitable prose means so much to so many people!

Didion needs almost no description. Kimberly argues why you should read this seminal work, touches on Didion’s biography then digs into why her engaging, dark, entirely inimitable prose is almost universally respected. (For parts 2 and 3 of this lecture, scroll down through the episodes to Lecture 7!)
29:3912/04/2024
Enriched Read 5: Percival Everett's JAMES in light of Twain's HUCK FINN >> Find out why Everett's incredible re-imagining is a HUGE IMPROVEMENT on the source material.

Enriched Read 5: Percival Everett's JAMES in light of Twain's HUCK FINN >> Find out why Everett's incredible re-imagining is a HUGE IMPROVEMENT on the source material.

NO PRE-READING REQUIRED! Listen in for all you need to know about HUCK FINN (without spending days reading Twain). Kimberly shares not only why JAMES is an insanely great revisioning of the 1884 adventure story--but why Everett's crucial text is important, hilarious, unique and JUST SO GOOD.
01:15:1108/04/2024
REPOST: Dorothy Baker’s CASSANDRA AT THE WEDDING > Find out why literally NO ONE to whom Kimberly recommends this 1962 novel about identical 21-year-old twins in California is disappointed.

REPOST: Dorothy Baker’s CASSANDRA AT THE WEDDING > Find out why literally NO ONE to whom Kimberly recommends this 1962 novel about identical 21-year-old twins in California is disappointed.

Kimberly always describes Cassandra at the Wedding as a near-perfect novel. From Baker’s insanely great use of figurative language to nostalgia for the Berkeley and the Central Valley of the early 60s, to an incisive exploration of individuation in the case of identical twins–the novel is a huge crowd pleaser every time Kimberly teaches it. (NOTE: this lecture kind of assumes you've read (or are reading) the novel. There are likely references to spoilers. If you're trying to get a sense of the book, maybe check out the five-minute recommendation further down in the episode list!)
01:28:2901/04/2024