Kristen and Charles discuss books dealing with sexual harassment and sexual violence and how the #MeToo movement is forcing America to rethink how we talk about sex. Music by Michael Martin.

The Books That Are Almost Too Heavy To Carry

Nov 14th, 2017 47m 35s

Not every book allows us to escape. Some hold our focus on the misery and terror of the human condition. They force us to bear witness. In this podcast, we discuss the books that are burdens, but rewarding burdens.

Why We Still Care About Superheros

Nov 1st, 2017 47m 57s

Stories of empowerment, justice, and the consequences of vigilantism are among the many reasons superheroes remain relevant. We discuss comics and novels that focus on both the super-abled and the average citizen who decide to fight back.

On Being Awkward

Sep 25th, 2017 1h 3m

We discuss awkward books by:Ty TashiroTracy O'NeilJ.D. SalingerNeil GaimanBryan Lee O'MalleyDavid Foster WallaceAnd tease books by:Samanta SchweblinNick Harkaway

Books That Shape The World

Sep 12th, 2017 31m 44s

The books we read as children can shift our understanding of the world, so Kristen and Charles go over some of the stories that shaped our perceptions including the not-so-safe-for-younger-readers Christian Bible.

The Joys Of Opening A Bookshop

Aug 29th, 2017 49m 7s

Literati Bookshop turned one, giving Kristen and Charles an excuse to trade stories about running an odd store in an odd building located in an odd neighborhood in Oklahoma City.

Pretending Like You Don't Have Agency

Aug 21st, 2017 42m 56s

Beloved writer/musician Marty Peercy joins the podcast to discuss characters that refuse to take agency in their lives and why. Many thanks to Marty for allowing us to use his music and to pry from him the story of his one-upping acclaimed aut

Civil Discourse

Jul 13th, 2017 42m 25s

The American obsession with winning is behind our current breakdown in political discourse, so Kristen Grace and Charles Martin talk about books that reveal how to reach out to those that disagree and engage in meaningful dialogue, rather than

Why Comedy Allows Us To Be Honest

Jun 29th, 2017 49m 53s

We shove our audio engineer, Michael, to front and center to rehash his open mic career, then discuss how humor allows us to be more honest about the good and the bad of the human condition.

The Heroes We Need

Jun 22nd, 2017 54m 36s

Kristen Grace assembles her own book club to tackle the Tearling fantasy series.

Writers From Countries We Are In Conflict With

Jun 14th, 2017 40m 11s

Literature can break through facades created by politics and the media to examine cultures perceived to be our enemies. For this week, we talk about writers originating from nations we are in various forms of conflict with to attempt to better

We Are Monsters

Jun 7th, 2017 34m 55s

David Doub from Dusk Publishing stops by the book shop to talk monsters and why he's obsessed with vampires. Check out more from Dusk at duskpublishing.com and @DuskPublishing.

How We Write About Violence/We Love McCarthy

May 31st, 2017 48m 16s

Aaron Souders from the WAFTI Podcast joins us to discuss Cormac McCarthy and what the portrayal of violence tells us about the writer and about us. Check out WAFTI at mostlyharmless.media or on social media as @WAFTIShow.

Memories Of My Melancholy Marquez

May 24th, 2017 34m 12s

Following the passing of a gentle titan of modern literature, Kristen and Charles discuss Gabriel García Marquez's unique blend of humanity, fantasy, and authenticity.