After being taken over by Chad's daughter, the podcast gets back on track, and Chad and Derek Maine (Read the World YouTube channel) break down the first half of part two of Four by Four, talking about the ways in which power structures are replicated, the increasing scope of the novel's construction, reading between the lines, trusting the impulses in children, books that don't offer clear solutions, and much more.

This week's musical "4x4" reference is from Florida Georgia Line, because of course it is.

If you'd prefer to watch the conversation, you can find it on YouTube along with all our past episodes. (And seriously, this week's opening is worth watching.) The next broadcast will be on July 8th. We'll be talking about pages 156-222) of Four by Four, which is available in bookstores everywhere. (And as an audiobook via Tantor Media!)

Follow Open Letter, Chad Post, and Brian Wood for random thoughts and information about upcoming guests.

Be sure to order Brian's book, Joytime Killbox, which is now officially available at better bookstores everywhere thanks to BOA Editions. And you can get 20% off Four by Four by using the code 2MONTH at checkout. (Offer only good in the U.S., since we can't ship overseas, but to be honest, we can't ship right now! Order it from Bookshop.org.)

You can also support this podcast and all of Open Letter's activities by making a tax-deductible donation through the University of Rochester.