Best Trevor Berrett Podcasts (2025)

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107: Goals or Guilt? A Check-in on Our Reading Ambitions 1:24:28

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7d ago1:24:28

1:24:28

In this episode, Paul and Trevor check in on our 2025 reading goals—where we’ve succeeded, where we’ve faltered, and most importantly how our goals are impacting our reading experience. Are we setting ourselves up for success, or are we creating unnecessary pressure? We dive into the positives and potentials pitfalls of reading ambitions, exploring…

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106: Bookshelf Roulette: Surprises from the Shelf 1:16:22

21d ago1:16:22

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In this episode we’re shaking things up with Bookshelf Roulette! No pre-planned selections—just pure randomness. Using a random number generator, we each pick a few books from our shelves and dive into spontaneous discussions. Did we read them? Do we love them? Do we remember them? From forgotten gems to books we’ve been meaning to get to, we explo…

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Episode 105: Wrists Be Damned: or, How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Big Books 2:00:51

1M ago2:00:51

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In this episode, Trevor and Paul are joined by Chris Via of Leaf by Leaf to celebrate the experience of reading big books. From the books that once intimidated us to the ones we now can't imagine our overburdened shelves without, we dive into what makes a book feel "big." Along the way, we share personal stories, favorite strategies for tackling do…

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Episode 104: Hanne Ørstavik 1:18:46

2M ago1:18:46

1:18:46

What happens when a writer turns silence, fear, grief—and love?—into novels that are barely a couple hundred pages but echo for days? Whether it’s love withheld, misplaced, or mourned, Ørstavik’s novels speak to each other through unspoken longing and the disorienting nature of grief—with a quiet, cumulative power that’s hard to shake. In this epis…

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Episode 103: Charco Press 1:22:25

2M ago1:22:25

1:22:25

It’s time for another publisher-centric episode, and it’s another stunner—we’re heading to Latin America (via Scotland!) to talk about the brilliant Charco Press! We dive into what makes Charco Press such a standout: their dedication to bringing contemporary Latin American literature to English-language readers, their thoughtful support of authors …

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Episode 102: Diving into the Past with Historical Fiction 1:53:26

3M ago1:53:26

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In this episode of The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast, we’re joined by Rohan Maitzen to explore the multifaceted world of historical fiction. Rohan guides us through the genre, unpacking its many layers and surprising complexities. From timeless classics to unexpected gems, we share some of our favorite examples from the genre and discuss how histor…

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Episode 101: Big News, Short Books 59:54

3M ago59:54

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Introducing the Mookse and Gripes Novella Reading Group! Through this year, we’re reading three novellas about love, longing, and leadership gone slightly off the rails. In this episode, we kick things off with some bookish banter before unveiling our new novella reading group on Discord. We have a short intermission for a special new game with a g…

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Episode 100: Questions, Answers, Books 2:57:30

4M ago2:57:30

2:57:30

In this special centenary episode of The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast, we're shaking things up with an Ask Us Anything celebration! Join us as we answer listeners’ questions covering everything from our favorite books and authors to the behind-the-scenes moments of the podcasting process. We’re answering it all, sharing some fun stories, and offer…

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Episode 99: Books We Think About All the Time 1:48:08

4M ago1:48:08

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We’re joined by the amazing poet and essayist Elisa Gabbert to discuss some of the books that we think about all the time. We each share three books that are always on our minds and discuss the many reasons some works become such and important part of who we are. Which ones would you pick? Shownotes Books * Any Person Is the Only Self, by Elisa Gab…

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Episode 98: City Books 1:16:47

4M ago1:16:47

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From glistening skyscrapers and bustling downtowns to dark alleys and creeping urban decay, cities are endlessly complicated and diverse. And so are the books that take place in urban settings. This week, we share some of our favorite city books and chat about what makes these environments so fascinating. What are your favorites? Shownotes Books * …

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Episode 97: 2025 Reading Horizons 1:34:10

5M ago1:34:10

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To kick off the new year, we discuss some of he 2025 new releases we’re most excited about. We also share our personal 5 in ‘25—five books (new or old) that we can’t wait to read this year. What are yours? Shownotes Books * Miss MacIntosh, My Darling, by Marguerite Young * Middlemarch, by George Eliot * Lies and Sorcery, by Elsa Morante, translated…

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Episode 96: Our Favorite Books We Read in 2024, Part II 2:02:23

5M ago2:02:23

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For our final episode of 2024, we finish our annual best of the year extravaganza! Here we are joined by more friends sharing their favorite reads of the year as we go through our top five. Happy New Year! We will see you in 2025! Shownotes Books * The Overstory, by Richard Powers * Septology, by Jon Fosse, translated by Damion Searls * A Shining, …

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Episode 95: Our Favorite Books We Read in 2024, Part I 1:42:26

6M ago1:42:26

1:42:26

Trevor and Paul are back with the fourth annual best of the year extravaganza! In Part I, we count down the first half of our en favorite reads of 2024—and we are once again joined by a cast of friends and listeners who share some of their top books and best reading experiences of the year! Another great chance to grow your TBR pile for 2025! Shown…

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Episode 94: Javier Marías 1:21:55

6M ago1:21:55

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Since his death in 2022, we have been wanting to dedicate an episode to Spanish novelist Javier Marías, a master of the distrusting, long sentence. We had a lovely time reflecting on his books, which we could read again and again. What is your favorite Javier Marías book? Shownotes Books * Doctor Thorne, by Anthony Trollope * Great Fear on the Moun…

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Episode 93: Books We Wanted to Reread Immediately 1:34:56

7M ago1:34:56

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What books have you wanted to reread as soon as you finished them? Inspired by this fascinating prompt from our friend Nora, we decided to dive into this fun topic. We talk about the categories of books that inspire immediate rereads, share a few of our own examples, and discuss when (or if) we’ve ever actually done it. What books have inspired you…

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Episode 92: Essays, Part II 1:24:43

7M ago1:24:43

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We love talking about essays so much, we decided to do it again! This week, we pick up where we left off a few episodes ago, chatting about more of our favorite essayists and collections. We also share a few from our essay TBR piles. What are some of your favorites? Shownotes Books * Greenglass House, by Kate Milford * Ghosts of Greenglass House, b…

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Episode 91: Digressions with Mark Haber 1:40:29

8M ago1:40:29

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This week, we’re joined by our good friend Mark Haber to discuss his wonderful books, including the brand new Lesser Ruins. Fittingly, this episode features numerous digressions into literary influences and loves, coffee, music, art, travel, and much more! Shownotes Books * The Cemetery of Untold Stories, by Julia Alvarez * The Rainbow, by D.H. Law…

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Episode 90: Essays, Part I 1:38:32

8M ago1:38:32

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This week’s episode is all about essays! From nature writing, to reviews and criticism, to personal reflections and familiar essays, this form offers something for everyone. In this episode, we share our thoughts and experiences, including our go-to varieties and favorite examples. What are yours? Shownotes Books * The Woman in Black, by Susan Hill…

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Episode 89: Benchwarmer Books 1:25:30

9M ago1:25:30

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We all have those books that are waiting in the wings, begging for a chance to make their way off the shelf and into our hands. This week, we chat about why some books seem to get stuck on the sidelines, even though we always think they’ll be the next one up. We discuss some of the reasons this happens and each share five of our own benchwarmer boo…

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Episode 88: Women in Translation 1:41:58

9M ago1:41:58

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To close out Women In Translatjon month, we’re thrilled to be joined by poet and translator Robin Myers. We chat about the art of translation and the importance of providing access to and for wide a range of voices. And we each share three translated books written by women that we think you should know about. What did you read this year during #WIT…

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Episode 87: The Story of Lucy Gault 1:32:56

10M ago1:32:56

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This week, we are joined from Down Under by veteran book blogger Kim Forrester to discuss our 2024 summer read, William Trevor’s The Story Of Lucy Gault. We discuss this heartbreaking, beautiful book, chat about William Trevor’s other works and make some recommendations (and plans) about where to go next. We hope you enjoy the conversation as much …

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Episode 86: Our Favorite Ten Books of the 21st Century So Far 1:32:25

10M ago1:32:25

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This week we have fun with all of the top books of the 21st century hype by sharing our own top 10 lists. We each killed a few darlings and made some very tough decisions. How did we do? What books would make your list? Summer Book Club The book for the Mookse and the Gripes Summer Book Club 2024 is William Trevor’s The Story of Lucy Gault. You can…

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Episode 85: Roberto Bolaño 1:37:43

11M ago1:37:43

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This week we’re joined by super reader Ron Restrepo for a discussion about Roberto Bolaño, whom Rodrigo Fresan described as “one of a kind, a writer who worked without a net, who went all out, with no brakes, and in doing so created a new way to be a great Latin American writer.” Do we unlock the mysteries of Bolaño’s magic? Probably not. But we do…

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Episode 84: Our Most Anticipated Releases from the Last Half of 2024 1:25:07

11M ago1:25:07

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This week we look ahead to the second half of 2024 and each share the five forthcoming books we’re most excited about . . . along with a few honorable mentions, of course. Which upcoming books are you most looking forward to? Summer Book Club The book for the Mookse and the Gripes Summer Book Club 2024 is William Trevor’s The Story of Lucy Gault. Y…

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Episode 83: Shelf Control 1:29:26

11M ago1:29:26

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This week’s episode is all about . . . books! To be specific, Trevor and Paul chat about their book shelves, diving into all kinds of fun topics. How many books do they own? Where do they keep them? How are they organized? Buying and culling habits? Even better, this episode features A LOT of great listener feedback as well. It’s the perfect chance…

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Episode 82: Bucket List Books, Part II 1:37:06

12M ago1:37:06

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This week we turn back the clock and revisit our very first podcast topic: Bucket List Books! We check in on our progress over the last few years, discuss our philosophies and motivations, look ahead to our next bucket lists books, and share plenty of listener feedback. What books are on your bucket list—and why? Summer Book Club The book for the M…

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Episode 81: Audiobooks 1:21:40

1y ago1:21:40

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Looking to fit even more books into your life? We think audiobooks are a great solution. This week we chat about reading in different formats and settings and hen and how we both read audiobooks. We also share some of our favorite audio experiences, books, and authors! Summer Book Club The book for the Mookse and the Gripes Summer Book Club 2024 ha…

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Episode 80: Facing the Void 1:25:40

1y ago1:25:40

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How do you fill the yawning chasm that arises after you finish a great book or a long group read? Is it a time of excitement and possibility, or a daunting and overwhelming trial? Fresh off of finishing several doorstops ourselves, we discuss how we approach what we want to read next. Summer Book Club The Mookse and the Gripes Summer Book Club 2024…

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Episode 79: Rediscovered Gems 1:22:47

1y ago1:22:47

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So many great books have been published only to go out of print, for whatever reason. But they still have things to say to contemporary readers. Thankfully, there are several publishers whose work focuses on bringing these books back to us grateful readers. In this episode, we are are joined by Jacqui, who blogs at JacquiWine’s Journal, to discuss …

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Episode 78: The Great American Novel 1:36:29

1y ago1:36:29

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The idea of the Great American Novel is controversial, passé, hubristic, and . . . always fascinating to talk about. This week, inspired by a recent list of potential candidates for the Great American Novel published in The Atlantic, we dive in and talk about the concept, the history, the list, and our votes for other contenders. What book(s) would…

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Episode 77: Poetry 1:42:13

1y ago1:42:13

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How do we love poetry? Let us count the ways. This week, we’re joined by Anthony Garrett to kick off National Poetry Month with a wonderful conversation about our favorite poems and poets, how and when we read poetry, and a discussion about how to approach this sometimes intimidating part of the literary landscape. Does poetry play a part in your r…

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Episode 76: Author Completionism 1:18:59

1y ago1:18:59

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This week we discuss the idea of being a completist in our reading. We discuss the authors whose works we’ve finished completely, as well as those we’re working on (or hoping to…). Do you savor your favorite authors’ works slowly or gobble them all down? Have you read the entire catalog of any authors? We also have a special giveaway, so please joi…

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Episode 75: Barbara Comyns 1:23:27

1y ago1:23:27

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Although the books of Barbara Comyns have experienced a bit of a renaissance in recent years, she remains woefully under appreciated and read by far too few. This week, we’re joined by Comyns aficionado Nora to discuss this beguiling and fascinating author and to do our best to spread the word about her strange and wonderful books. Shownotes Books …

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Episode 74: Canadian Literature 1:44:49

1+ y ago1:44:49

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This week, we're joined by Jerry Faust for a fun conversation about Canadian literature. Incredibly diverse and far too often overlooked, Canada’s literary output is a goldmine of wonderful books and authors. What are your favorites? Republic of Consciousness Prize, United States and Canada As you’ve heard on the podcast, Paul is a judge of this ye…

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Episode 73: Hidden Gems 1:42:37

1+ y ago1:42:37

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This week, we're joined by Shawn the Book Maniac for a fun discovery about one of his specialties: finding books that are hidden gems. We share some tips for finding great books that are off the beaten path, discuss why it's important and fun, and share three books each that you may never have heard of before—quite a challenge! Hopefully we will ad…

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Episode 72: Characters on Holiday 1:28:23

1+ y ago1:28:23

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Books and holidays go together perfectly, and not just for those of us doing the reading. This week, we talk about our favorite stories where the characters are on vacation—a perfect recipe for exploring exotic settings, quenching vicarious wanderlust, romance, adventure, and plenty more! We also announce the winner our latest giveaway! Shownotes *…

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Episode 71: 2024 Reading Horizon 1:29:28

1+ y ago1:29:28

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This week we set our sites on 2024! We share our reading plans, hopes, and dreams for the New Year and highlight some of the new releases we can’t wait to add to our shelves. What books are you most excited to read and buy this year? Giveaway! We wanted to kick off the New Year with a giveaway! Both of us have read this on and highly recommend it: …

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Episode 70: Our Favorite Books We Read in 2023, Part II 2:05:03

1+ y ago2:05:03

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For this final episode of 2023, we finish our annual two episode best of the year extravaganza! Here we count down our top five favorite reads of 2023—and again we are joined by a cast of listeners who share some of their top books and best reading experiences of the year! Happy New Year! We will see you in 2024! Shownotes * Roman Stories, by Jhump…

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Episode 69: Our Favorite Books We Read in 2023, Part I 1:40:59

1+ y ago1:40:59

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This week kicks off our annual two episode best of the year extravaganza! Trevor and Paul count down the first part of their ten favorite reads of 2023—and they’re joined by a cast of listeners who share some of their top books and best reading experiences of the year! We dare you to not add a book (or more!) to your 2024 TBR! Giveaway Details We a…

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Episode 68: The Dalkey Archive 1:30:25

1+ y ago1:30:25

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This week’s publisher episode focuses on one of our very favorites: Dalkey Archive. Founded nearly 40 years ago, Dalkey specializes in “lesser-known and often avant-garde works.” Trevor and Paul each share a few of their favorite titles and announce an exciting Dalkey giveaway. Be sure to share your favorite for a chance to win! Giveaway Details We…

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Episode 67: On a Bookish Holiday 1:19:29

1+ y ago1:19:29

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For many of us, reading is like taking a holiday. But this week, we dive into true literary holidays as we discuss some of our favorite bookish destinations, as well as a few that are on our bucket lists. Where are your top literary destinations? Shownotes Books * Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath, by Heather Clark * The Bri…

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Episode 66: Reading Habits 1:19:50

1+ y ago1:19:50

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Do you read in the morning or at night? Do you read while walking? With music? Do you read more than one book at a time? In this episode Trevor and Paul look at their reading habits to see what things they’ve come up with to feed the reading hound. We would love to know your reading habits as well! Please share with us! Shownotes Books * Lojman, by…

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Episode 65: Jon Fosse, with Damion Searls 1:26:34

1+ y ago1:26:34

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Jon Fosse is the newest winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, and for this week’s episode we are joined by Fosse’s translator Damion Searls to discuss Fosse’s work and the art of translation. Substack Is Now Our Host When we released Episode 64: Victorian Literature, we experimented by releasing it through Substack rather than the host we had us…

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Episode 64: Victorian Literature 2:01:47

1+ y ago2:01:47

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This week’s episode has a lot in common with Victorian literature: long, sometimes digressive and (we hope) filled with fun topics and interesting characters! We’re joined by Victorian expert extraordinaire Rohan Maitzen for a fun discussion about this wonderful era, including some of our favorite titles and authors. And no, we weren’t paid by the …

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Episode 63: Our Favorite Passages 1:28:51

1+ y ago1:28:51

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This week, we’re talking about our favorite passages from literature. You know, those sentences, paragraphs or even pages that take your breath away and send you scrambling for the closest highlighter? We discuss the types of language that catches our eye and each share some of our all-time favorite passages. What are yours? For complete shownotes,…

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Episode 62: Spinster Lit 1:29:07

1+ y ago1:29:07

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This week, we celebrate Spinster September by discussing spinster lit with Nora (pear.jelly). We chat about spinster tropes and stereotypes, ways in which the term is evolving, and dig into why these women appeal to so many of us. And, of course, we each share some of our favorite examples from literature. For complete shownotes, please sign up for…

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Episode 61: The Most Intimidating Books on Our TBR 1:16:47

2y ago1:16:47

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This week is all about the most intimidating books on our TBR piles. You know, the ones you really want to read someday and yet never quite seem to make it to the top of the pile? We each share five of the most terrifying tomes on our shelves, and share some some listener input as well. Oh, and we each *gulp* commit to read one book from our list! …

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Episode 60: Favorite Books We Have Forgotten 1:40:07

2y ago1:40:07

1:40:07

Have you ever forgotten one of your all-time favorite books? If you’re anything like the two of us, the answer is a resounding yes! This week, we talk about some of the best books we’ve forgotten about over the years . . . and how this is even possible. For complete shownotes, please sign up for The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast Newsletter. If you'…

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Episode 59: The Dry Heart 1:29:38

2y ago1:29:38

1:29:38

This week, we are joined by an all-star cast to discuss our 2023 summer read, Natalia Ginzburg’s The Dry Heart. Two of the most insightful readers we know, Merve Emre and Kim McNeil, share wonderful insights and thoughts and help us uncover aspects of Ginzburg’s brilliant work that we had never considered before. We hope your enjoy the conversation…

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Episode 58: Books You Can Get Immersed In 1:18:40

2y ago1:18:40

1:18:40

Summer is a perfect time to take a break from real life and completely disappear into a good book. But what makes a book immersive? Plot? Writing? Characters? This week, we explore this topic and share some of our favorite immersive reads. We also announce the winner of our latest giveaway: a copy of Natalia Ginzburg’s The Dry Heart, which we’ll be…