Listen to a podcast, please open Podcast Republic app. Available on Google Play Store.
Jul 15, 2022
I don't support those who support the murder of children in wombs, it's disgusting.
Oct 5, 2021
jason
Aug 2, 2021
interesting, engaging, and I love the dynamic between Andrew and Craig. always looking forward to the next episode
Margo
Nov 29, 2020
Andrew and Craig make it a joy hearing about books I haven't read yet. The premise of one reading and informing the other, makes the host into a listener also so it's a great switch to normal reading/book podcasts.
heide
Jan 21, 2020
Overdue is a podcast about the books you've been meaning to read. Join Andrew and Craig each week as they tackle a new title from their backlog. Classic literature, obscure plays, goofy childen’s books: they'll read it all, one overdue book at a time.
Episode | Date |
---|---|
Sand By Me: Neil Gaiman's The Sandman - Books 1 & 2
8548
Welcome to our newest show-within-a-show! We're working our way through Neil Gaiman's signature graphic novel series THE SANDMAN. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 24, 2023 |
Ep 581 - Heidi, by Johanna Spyri
3863
Heidi, Heidi, Heidi! Everyone's talking about this adorable ragamuffin, a precocious child who lights up every life she touches like a ray of God's perfect sunshine. This week we learn that living in a hut in the Swiss Alps is better than living in a city, and that if you roast a piece of cheese just right it sounds like the best food you could ever eat. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/overdue and get on your way to being your best self. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 20, 2023 |
Do Overdue: Ep 580 - Ghost Train, by Louise Munro Foley (Bonus Episode)
5436
WE FIND OURSELVES SHOOK BY THIS ROLLICKING RATTLING RIDE ALONG THE RAILS OF THE GHOST TRAIN. Find out how to join us for future bonus episodes at patreon.com/overduepod. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 17, 2023 |
Ep 579 - Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, by Tennessee Williams
3890
We finally read a play by Volunteer State Williams! Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a rumination on a family falling apart in the South. It's also an interesting example of how revisions and rewrites can shape a story's legacy. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 13, 2023 |
Ep 578 - This Is How You Lose The Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
3415
This is a twist on a time travel story where the relationship between two enemies-turned-frenemies-turned-lovers takes center stage, leaving the actual mechanics of the time travel and all the world-building mostly unexplained. The dual authorship—each author wrote the chapters for one of the two characters—adds another interesting wrinkle. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/overdue and get on your way to being your best self. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 06, 2023 |
Do Overdue: Ep 577 - Persuasion, by Jane Austen
4069
For our fourth Do Overdue episode, we revisit our first trip to Austenland and Jane Austen's final novel, a book Craig liked but didn't fully grok ten years ago. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 27, 2023 |
Do Overdue: Ep 576 - The Secret History, by Donna Tartt
3709
For our third Do Overdue episode, we return to a book that Andrew wanted to like more than he did, Donna Tartt's debut novel about murder at a small-town college. It went better the second time, thankfully! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/overdue and get on your way to being your best self. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 20, 2023 |
Ep 575 - Horrorstör, by Grady Hendrix (Bonus Episode)
4116
The graveyard shift in this haunted not-IKEA proves rather spooky! This bonus episode was recorded live with an audience of our Patreon supporters. Find out how to join us for future bonus recordings at patreon.com/overduepod Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 17, 2023 |
Do Overdue: Ep 574 - Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
3457
To celebrate ten (10) years (!!) of Overdue, this month we'll be re-doing some episodes based on books we read way back in the show's early years. This week we revisit our first-ever episode, talking about men, isolation, and tragic best friends who triumph against the odds. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 13, 2023 |
Do Overdue: Ep 573 - Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
4070
In honor of our 10th (!) podcasting anniversary, this month we'll be re-doing some episodes based on books we read way back in the show's early years. This week we revisit our second-ever episode, talking about love, cholera, and the time when both of those things could happen simultaneously. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/overdue and get on your way to being your best self. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 06, 2023 |
Ep 572 - The Three-Body Problem, by Liu Cixin
4084
Secret societies, extraterrestrial cultures, VR games, HARD SCIENCE- Liu Cixin's award-winning novel has it all. It's also set against the backdrop of the Cultural Revolution, grounding the story not only in science but in history as well. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 30, 2023 |
Ep 571 - Cast in Shadow (The Chronicles of Elantra Book #1), by Michelle Sagara
4052
Super-dense fantasy isn't everyone's cup of tea, and even people who enjoy that kind of tea can sometimes find individual cups of tea that aren't to their taste. Still, any book with lion and bird people in it can't be all bad. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/overdue and get on your way to being your best self. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 23, 2023 |
GOOSEBUMS Bonus - Goosebumps (2015)
3876
Enjoy a bonus episode of our spookiest show-within-a-show yet! We read a selection of eight spooktacular books from R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series, and then we realized there was a movie! This episode was originally released in November 2022. Some Patreon supporters get longread episodes monthly, but every two months we release them for general consumption. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 20, 2023 |
Ep 570 - The Last of the Mohicans, by James Fenimore Cooper
4011
Natty Bumppo is here to guide you through the wilderness of a Canonical White Guy's famous adventure tale. Maybe he can help us track down why it became the template for some less-than-helpful stereotypes based on dubious historical records. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 16, 2023 |
Ep 569 - Overdue Q&A #5 (Bonus Episode)
3743
You've got more Qs and we've got more As! This time around we talk more about our reading habits and our day jobs, our personal achievements in 2022, and the ASMR podcast that could have been. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 13, 2023 |
Ep 568 - Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh
3401
Are you a spy? If you are, you have to tell us. Are you a 6th grader? Well then, tell us if you identify with Louise Fitzhugh's Harriet, a girl with a keen but (perhaps overly) righteous eye just trying to get through adolescence. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/overdue and get on your way to being your best self. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 09, 2023 |
Ep 567 - Wide Sargasso Sea, by Jean Rhys
3487
If you like Jane Eyre but you eye Mr. Rochester and his marital history with some skepticism, Wide Sargasso Sea is an entry in the field of “critically acclaimed fanfic” that might speak to you. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 02, 2023 |
Ep 566 - Elves with Benefits (Reindeer Falls #4), by Jana Aston
4335
Happy Hornydays everyone! We're back with another celebration of the winter solstice and the corresponding need to cuddle up with someone to keep warm. Come with us to a Christmas village where a Christmas cop hooks up with a Christmas cop-out. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/overdue and get on your way to being your best self. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 26, 2022 |
Ep 565 - The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, by John le Carré
3832
The "cold" in this classic spy novel is a metaphor, but it's still a chilling book for a chilly season! If you like double-, triple-, and possible quadruple-crossings and hate happy endings, this is a book that you'll want to bring in from the cold. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/overdue and get on your way to being your best self. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 19, 2022 |
Ep 564 - A Room with a View, by E.M. Forster
3582
Look out the window. Do you see a love triangle? Characters that embody turn-of-the-century tensions? Or do you see a boring courtyard? Best ask for a new room, perhaps one with a view. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 12, 2022 |
Overdue Update - December 2022
781
The year may be ending, but some things are just beginning! Time for a few announcements that won't fit into a regular episode. In this special edition podcast update, we drop the details on our next longread project SAND BY ME, remind you that we have a Q&A Bonus Episode coming up on 12/22, tease some plans for January and February, and thank you for listening this year! For more info on the Patreon and how to get bonus episodes early, head to patreon.com/overduepod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 09, 2022 |
Ep 563 - The Library at Mount Char, by Scott Hawkins
4246
Not many authors jump from writing technical manuals to writing intense hard-to-categorize fiction about killing and becoming God, but apparently more people should try it! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/overdue and get on your way to being your best self. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 05, 2022 |
Ep 562 - Ramona Quimby, Age 8, by Beverly Cleary (w/ Kathryn VanArendonk!)
4142
We've talked about National Treasure Beverly Cleary on the show before, but we haven't spent time with her most indelible character, one Ramona Quimby. Recorded on the eve of Craig's new-dadhood, we're joined by TV critic and parenting expert Kathryn VanArendonk to discuss yard apes, sick days, and how differently the book hits from the other side of the parent/kid divide. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 28, 2022 |
Ep 561 - Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop Cafe, by Fannie Flagg (w/ Meghan Winch!)
4558
After the last food-related book we read, we figured we'd do a book about a tasty fried snack. Just a normal snack! Definitely nobody getting eaten in this book. At least not until toward the end. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/overdue and get on your way to being your best self. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 21, 2022 |
GOOSEBUMS, an R.L. Stine's Goosebumps miniseries - Episodes 7 & 8
6119
Enjoy another episode of our spookiest show-within-a-show yet! In case you can't tell by the name, we're reading a selection of eight spooktacular books from R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 18, 2022 |
Ep 560 - Planet of the Dragons (Choose Your Own Adventure), by Richard Brightfield
4034
You've crash-landed on the mysterious Planet of the Dragons, and suddenly you find yourself drafted into another culture's war by the very first sentient being you run into. Oh well! Guess you have nothing better to do! It's a classic Choose Your Own Adventure setup. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 14, 2022 |
Ep 559 - One Last Stop, by Casey McQuiston
3997
This week, Andrew's wife Suzannah sits in for Craig to discuss BookTok darling Casey McQuiston's book One Last Stop. An unlikely combination of gay romance and sci-fi elements, this one is the rare romance novel that will keep readers guessing. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/overdue and get on your way to being your best self. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 07, 2022 |
Ep 558 - The Awakening, by LJ Smith (Vampire Diaries #1, w/ Natasha from UNSpoiled!)
4383
Dear diary: Today we talked to our friend Natasha from the UNSpoiled podcast about a high-school-aged vampire novel with a popular screen adaptation. No, it's not Twilight. The UNSpoiled! podcast: https://www.unspoiledpodcast.com/ Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 31, 2022 |
Ep 557 - A Certain Hunger, by Chelsea G. Summers (w/ Christina Tucker and Kamille Washington)
4433
Sometimes, a book comes along that is the exact combination of horny, spooky, and appetizing that makes you need to come on your friends' book podcast and talk about it. A Certain Hunger is about sex and cannibalism, in that order, and we needed a total of four people to help process it in an hour-or-so of airtime. Christina Tucker on Twitter Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 24, 2022 |
Ep 556 - Undead Girl Gang, by Lily Anderson
3119
Your best friend passes away unexpectedly. Via witchcraft, you bring them back to life unexpectedly. Two of your ALSO-dead casual acquaintances/frenemies ADDITIONALLY come back to life unexpectedly. And the person that caused all these deaths is the least expected thing of all. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 17, 2022 |
Ep 555 - The Hellbound Heart, by Clive Barker
3280
You'll be on pins and needles for this one! The book that the Hellraiser series is based on, The Hellbound Heart introduces a race of not-quite-humans who can't tell the difference between pleasure and pain and so decide to get REALLY horny for pain! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 10, 2022 |
Ep 554 - Carmilla, by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (edited by Carmen Maria Machado)
3689
Carmilla is a double-whammy: an English-language vampire novel that predates Dracula by nearly three decades, and an edit from Carmen Maria Machado that both underlines the story's gay subtext and has a bit of fun with readers while doing it. Just try not to take her notes too literally and you'll be fine, probably. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 03, 2022 |
GOOSEBUMS, an R.L. Stine's Goosebumps miniseries - Episodes 5 & 6
7473
Enjoy another episode of our spookiest show-within-a-show yet! In case you can't tell by the name, we're reading a selection of eight spooktacular books from R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 30, 2022 |
Ep 553 - Among Others, by Jo Walton
3078
This love-letter to sci-fi, libraries, and friends forged through literature is also a fairy tale of sorts about a young girl saving her world. Is the magic real? Probably! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 26, 2022 |
Ep 552 - A House of Pomegranates, by Oscar Wilde
3858
Wilde's fairy tales probably aren't the best-known of his works, but that doesn't mean they don't get a little Wilde-y. Just don't expect many happily-ever-afters. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 19, 2022 |
Ep 551 - Beard on Bread, by James Beard (Bonus Episode)
4337
What's up homeslice? We baked up a real feast for you this time. Quit loafin' around and bite into this episode on James Beard, baking, and bread. We even baked our own bread and tasted it on-air! This episode was recorded with some of our Patreon supporters watching live. Find out how to join us for future episodes at patreon.com/overduepod. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 16, 2022 |
Ep 550 - Con Air (novelization), by Richard Woodley
3799
This podcast is taking off and it's got a lot of **bad guys** on it! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 12, 2022 |
Ep 549 - The Lost Dreamer, by Lizz Huerta
3812
It's us, back again with the first book in a (planned, as of this writing) multi-book fantasy series! The Lost Dreamer has a lot of neat ideas and a unique setting, but its abrupt ending and dearth of distinct supporting characters make it less strong than it could be. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 05, 2022 |
Ep 548 - The Firm, by John Grisham
4146
What do lawyers, airports, and thrillers have in common? They're all relevant to John Grisham's breakout novel The Firm! A Stepford-y secret, high-end copy machines, brilliant young law school grads -- this book has it all. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 29, 2022 |
Ep 547 - My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante
4091
This week's book, the first in a four-book series by the pseudonymous Elena Ferrante, is about the friendship of two Italian women across many years and many phases of life. You won't BELIEVE which friend ends up being the brilliant one! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 22, 2022 |
Ep 546 - Wittgenstein's Mistress, by David Markson
3699
This is a podcast about books. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 15, 2022 |
Ep 545 - The Cat Who Saved Books, by Sosuke Natsukawa
3709
Welcome back, cats and kittens! We have another MEW episode for you to listen to right MEOW! The Cat Who Saved Books is a book about books for book lovers. It does have a talking cat in it, and the cat kind-of-sort-of sets events in motion that leads to the saving of books. But "The Teenager Who Saved Books, And Also A Cat Was There Sometimes" is not as good a title. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 08, 2022 |
Ep 544 - Our Man in Havana, by Graham Greene (w/ Anne Bogel from What Should I Read Next?)
4205
This week, Anne Bogel of What Should I Read Next? and Modern Mrs. Darcy joins us to talk about one of Graham Greene's most well-known "entertainments." It's time to answer the question: can a political spy thriller set in just before the Cuban Revolution be too silly? You can find more from Anne at her website or on her podcast. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 01, 2022 |
GOOSEBUMS, an R.L. Stine's Goosebumps miniseries - Episodes 3 & 4
7121
Enjoy another episode of our spookiest show-within-a-show yet! In case you can't tell by the name, we're reading a selection of eight spooktacular books from R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 29, 2022 |
Ep 543 - Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel
4554
This Man Booker Prize-winning novel has one question at its core: what if Thomas Cromwell wasn't quite the jerk we thought he was? Henry VIII's right-hand man definitely does dirty deeds on behalf of the King, but Mantel creatively fills in blanks in the historical record to imagine a man who wasn't so bad. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 25, 2022 |
Ep 542 - Red Rising, by Pierce Brown (Red Rising series #1)
3876
This week we take a bloodydamn dive into the depths of a society living on a terraformed Mars hundreds of years into our future. The humans of this alternate reality are, get this, enforcing a rigid caste system that benefits a privileged few, and it's our meathead hero's job to infiltrate that society and take it down from the inside. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 18, 2022 |
Ep 541 - Star Trek: Killing Time (1st Edition), by Della Van Hise (Bonus Episode)
4867
Killing Time is a classic Star Trek novel most notable for its "interesting" publication history. Della Van Hise was an OG fan fiction author who got the chance to bring her particular skills and interests to an official novel featuring Kirk, Spock, and a few other fan favorites. Also, Andrew brought slides? This episode was recorded with some of our Patreon supporters watching live. Find out how to join us for future episodes at patreon.com/overduepod. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 15, 2022 |
Ep 540 - The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-To-Be, by Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash Rudick
4750
It's time to talk about expectant fatherhood. But whose? You'll have to listen to find out! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 11, 2022 |
Ep 539 - The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett
3407
In the world of hardboiled detectives, no one is harder boiled than Sam Spade, a guy who loves to get one over on both the criminals AND the cops while also romancing dames. Find out how to vote on future Patron’s Choice episodes at patreon.com/overduepod Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 04, 2022 |
Ep 538 - Angels in America, by Tony Kushner
3827
Can we contain all of Tony Kushner's award-winning Angels in America, a Gay Fantasia on National Themes in one podcast? Probably! First we'll talk about Part I: Millennium Approaches, then we'll talk about Part II: Perestroika. And along the way we'll cover Roy Cohn, how to stage an angel, and the Kushner-to-Spielberg Pipeline. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 27, 2022 |
Ep 537 - Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children #1), by Seanan McGuire
3664
What if the kids who fell into that wardrobe in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe all came back to the real world and needed extensive therapy to deal with the things they had seen and done? Welcome to Every Heart a Doorway, where a strong central conceit helps cover for a somewhat rushed mystery narrative. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 20, 2022 |
Ep 536 - Confessions of a Mask, by Yukio Mishima
3551
Tell me about a Complicated Man. Mishima's breakthrough coming-of-age novel about sexuality in late Imperial Japan has a powerful narrative voice and prose style. But the legacy of his work and his political goals has led to him being a bit of an "enigma" (as one listener referred to him) -- to put it lightly. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 13, 2022 |
Ep 535 - The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne
3502
The Scarlet Letter is often included as part of a high school reading curriculum because it's good at teaching people about symbolism, and it's good at teaching people about symbolism because it uses a half-dozen symbols roughly 700 times apiece. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 06, 2022 |
Ep 534 - A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles
3822
What if thirty years of history took place JUST beyond the doors of your hotel? And what if you weren't allowed to leave that hotel? And, get this, the hotel is in Moscow. The beloved bestseller A Gentleman in Moscow fills its historical fiction with charming characters that you want to root for. But can we (or should we) figure out what it's trying to say? Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 30, 2022 |
GOOSEBUMS, an R.L. Stine's Goosebumps miniseries - Episodes 1 & 2
6851
Welcome to our newest show-within-a-show! In case you can't tell by the name, we're reading a selection of eight spooktacular books from R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 27, 2022 |
Ep 533 - The Duke & I (Bridgerton #1), by Julia Quinn
4129
Whether you're a fan of Netflix's Bridgerton series or you just want an Austen novel with more modern language and more explicit sex scenes, the first novel in Julia Quinn's series about the Bridgerton family has something for you. Just, uh, watch out for the nonconsensual sexual encounter!! Oops!! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 23, 2022 |
Ep 532 - The Waste Land, by T.S. Eliot (Bonus Episode)
4452
Who wants to celebrate April with some modernist poetry??? This month, we allude to many of the allusions in T.S. Eliot's landmark poem. Thank you to the Patreon supporters who joined us as we navigated this tricksy poem. Find out how to join us for bonus recordings at patreon.com/overduepod. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 21, 2022 |
Ep 531 - Fences, by August Wilson
3699
August Wilson wrote a whole bunch of plays, all of which contain dialogue and take place at certain points in history. He's most notable for his Pittsburgh aka Century Cycle, so we decided to talk about one of the standouts: Fences. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 16, 2022 |
Ep 530 - Sandry's Book (Circle of Magic #1), by Tamora Pierce
3186
The first of four books in the Circle of Magic series, Sandry's Book feels a bit less self-contained than first-books-in-a-series normally do. You'll meet likable and well-drawn characters, but be prepared to finish the series if you want a more satisfying story. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 09, 2022 |
Ep 529 - How to Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell
3449
The inspiration for the hit trilogy of DreamWorks films is rather different than you might expect. It's still about a boy named Hiccup and his dragon Toothless, but the original has more burping, farting, and Dragonese than the films dared to show -- which is odd because those are the guys what made Shrek. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 02, 2022 |
Ep 528 - The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest (Millennium #3), by Stieg Larsson
4480
The thrilling conclusion to the Millennium trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest continues most of the plot threads introduced in the previous book. If you thought that The Girl Who Played With Fire was lacking in secondary and tertiary characters, boy have we got good news for you! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 25, 2022 |
Ep 527 - Trust Exercise, by Susan Choi
3922
This award-winning novel by a real writer's writer has elicited a broad range of responses, with some folks praising the prose and structure and others bouncing off its characters and style. But maybe that range of reactions was inevitable given the way Trust Exercise explores the slipperiness of memory and narrative. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 18, 2022 |
Ep 526 - The Winter's Tale, by William Shakespeare
3971
Is The Winter's Tale a tragicomedy? A dramedy? A romance? A problem play? Who knows! But we can say for certain it's a play about a king who gets jealous and makes bad decisions. Also a bear eats someone. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 11, 2022 |
Ep 525 - The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro
3838
Truly great butlers are work-focused automata, occupied only on maintaining and increasing the reputation of their employer. But what if there were more to life than that? This week, we follow one butler as he comes to exactly that realization. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 04, 2022 |
Jagged Little Mill, a Don Quixote miniseries - Episodes 13 & 14
5366
Enjoy the FINAL EPISODE of our latest show-within-a-show! We read Edith Grossman's translation of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes a few chapters at a time. Some Patreon supporters got these episodes monthly, but every two months we combined them for general consumption. These episodes cover Chapters 48-74 of Part Two aka The End of the Story. In Episode 13, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza bid goodbye to the Duke and Duchess of Prankdom...for now. In Episode 14, we bid goodbye to Don Quixote and Sancho. And we learn just how mad Cervantes was about that unofficial Quixote sequel. Next up: GOOSEBUMS, a Goosebumps miniseries! Find out how to get these longreads episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 01, 2022 |
Ep 524 - The Love Hypothesis, by Ali Hazelwood (w/ Heaving Bosoms)
7064
It's time to go back to school, where professional scientists Melody and Erin from the Heaving Bosoms podcast can help us talk about Ali Hazelwood's The Love Hypothesis. This STEAMy romantic comedy is one heck of a romp, and we have a heck of a time recounting it. Caveat lictor: This episode is marked explicit because this book includes adult material! You can find more from our new friends at the Heaving Bosoms podcast here. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 28, 2022 |
Ep 523 - The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, by Deesha Philyaw (w/ Glory Edim from Well-Read Black Girl)
3816
This week, Glory Edim of Well-Read Black Girl fame joins us to talk about Deesha Philyaw's inaugural short story collection. We also chat with Glory about her work with WRBG and some of her favorite interviews. You can find more from Glory and Well-Read Black Girl at their website or on their podcast. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 21, 2022 |
Ep 522 - As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner
3288
My podcast is a fish. Faulkner's 1930 modernist "tour de force" (his words) takes one family's journey to bury its matriarch and splinters it into over a dozen increasingly-disjointed perspectives. The book's structure and characters are memorable but boy howdy are they difficult. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 14, 2022 |
Overdue Update - March 2022
1218
The State of our Podcast is strong! We just have a few announcements to make that wouldn't fit onto a regular episode. In this special edition podcast update, we drop the details on our next longread project GOOSEBUMS, discuss some tweaks to our Patreon project, and thank you all for making the show the success that it is! To find out more about our Patreon changes, head on over to this post. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 11, 2022 |
Ep 521 - The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson
4494
This week we talk about the 1985-1995 comic strip Calvin and Hobbes by way of the 1992 collection The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes. The strip is totally inseparable from a discussion of its medium and the merchandising-averse guy who made it. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 07, 2022 |
Ep 520 - War with the Mutant Spider Ants (Choose Your Own Adventure), by Edward Packard (Bonus Episode)
4905
Join us in the Everglades as Florida Boy rummages through the bayou in search of adventure! Will we make it out alive? Will we win the war? Tune in to find out! Thank you to the Patreon supporters who joined us as we made these adventurous choices. Find out how to join us for bonus recordings at patreon.com/overduepod. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 05, 2022 |
Ep 519 - The Widows of Malabar Hill, by Sujata Massey
3092
This mystery novel featuring Perveen Mistry (get it?) is also an engrossing work of historical fiction. We learn about different religious and family structures in 1920s Bombay, and we also learn about how the story's split timeline impacts the narrative. Also, Cyrus sucks. Boo Cyrus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 28, 2022 |
Ep 518 - Black Buck, by Mateo Askaripour
3330
We bring our weirdest and most chaotic vibes to our conversation about Black Buck and the forces that inform it, whether that's a bad thing or not is sort of up to you! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 21, 2022 |
Ep 517 - Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor
3600
Roll of thunder, hear our podcast! We're talking about Taylor's Newbery-winning novel about the Logan family working to survive in the Jim Crow South. Also, Andrew makes a joke about The Sims to try and liven things up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 14, 2022 |
Ep 516 - Maus, by Art Spiegelman
4637
In response to the McMinn County, TN's unanimous decision to ban Art Spiegelman's Maus from its 8th-grade curriculum last month, we've both re-read the book to encourage a conversation about its continued importance and (sadly) relevance. Also, did you know that Art Spiegelman helped make Garbage Pail Kids? We've made donations to HIAS Pennsylvania and The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia this week. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 07, 2022 |
Feed Drop: Well-Read Black Girl - Min Jin Lee on Becoming a Writer
430
We're sharing a special preview of the new podcast, Well-Read Black Girl from Pushkin Industries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 03, 2022 |
Ep 515 - Ratha's Creature (The Named #1), by Clare Bell
3171
Clare Bell's novel about prehistoric big cats with language, culture, and fire is also a pretty engrossing adventure about being cast out from your home and discovering the world around you. Time to join the clan of the Red Tongue! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 31, 2022 |
Jagged Little Mill, a Don Quixote miniseries - Episodes 11 & 12
4521
Enjoy another episode of our latest show-within-a-show! We're reading Edith Grossman's translation of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes a few chapters at a time. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption. These episodes cover Chapters 27-47 of Part Two. In Episode 11, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza meet a Duke and Duchess familiar with Quixote's adventures. LARPing and pranks ensue. In Episode 12, the Duke and Duchess continue to deceive our heroes. There's a wooden horse, a bag of cats, and a governorship (finally). Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 29, 2022 |
Ep 514 - The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown (w/ Appointment Television)
5084
The former hosts of Appointment Television join us this week to talk about Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol, the book version of the TV show Peacock's Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. This book makes that show and all other Dan Brown books seem actually kinda better by comparison? Follow Margaret H. Willison on Twitter. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 24, 2022 |
Ep 513 - Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi
3555
Yaa Gyasi's debut novel tracks the lasting impacts of the slave trade across multiple generations and continents, through the eyes of two half-sisters and their descendants. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 17, 2022 |
Ep 512 - The Story of Doctor Dolittle, by Hugh Lofting (w/ Alli from SSR)
3903
Where did his animal-talking abilities come from? Why is he worshipped by animals all over the world? Why does this book talk about money so much? And why did so few of us read Dr. Dolittle in grade school? This week, we tried to answer these questions (and more) with Alli from the SSR Podcast, a great show you should check out! You can also listen to our previous SSR Podcast collab: Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots with the Bailey School Kids. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 10, 2022 |
Ep 511 - Coming for Christmas, by Krystyna Allyn (Bonus Episode)
4416
Two horrible dudes double team one sexy lady in this horny, Christmas-adjacent story. This episode is EXTREMELY explicit, so buckle up!! For more on our bonus episodes, head to patreon.com/overduepod. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 08, 2022 |
Ep 510 - The Girl Who Played With Fire (Millennium #2), by Stieg Larsson
4128
We return to the Dragon Tattoo-niverse this week to discuss the second book of the Millennium trilogy, and to talk about each of the three dozen-or-so named characters tucked inside this book. Need a refresher on Lisbeth and Mikke? Listen to our 500th episode on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 03, 2022 |
Ep 509 - The Art of War, by Sun Tzu
4105
We learn the art of military strategy, deception, and fire from Michael Nylan's 2020 translation of this classic text. We start by going in-depth on the contemporary political references in Nylan's Introduction to this edition, and then we go blow-by-blow and nugget-by-inspirational-nugget through Master Sun's timeless wisdom. Here's translator Michael Nylan writing about the book for LitHub: "The Art of War is Actually a Manual on How to Avoid It." Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 27, 2021 |
Ep 508 - Jennifer Government, by Max Barry
3618
Jennifer Government is one of those near-future satirical works that probably felt a lot farther from reality back when it was originally written. Barry's predictions feel distressingly spot on here in 2021, and his prescience isn't exactly comforting. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 20, 2021 |
Ep 507 - If on a winter's night a traveler, by Italo Calvino
3960
Sometimes a book is so meta it sort of breaks your brain! How to talk about a book that is all beginnings and no ends? How to discuss a book that enlists You, the Reader, in its chicanery? We try to get on the wavelength with Calvino's text. You be the judge of if we get there. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 13, 2021 |
Ep 506 - The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros
3677
Sandra Cisneros' first novel is a collection of rapid-fire vignettes about childhood and friendship and race and America. We also check in with the darker side of our recurring guest host, the Iowa Writers Workshop. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 06, 2021 |
Ep 505 - Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters
3855
This contemporary Victorian story is chockablock with twists and turns, backstabs and broadsides, as well as Dickensian pornfiends. It also features a steamy lesbian romance between two women desperate to escape their own circumstances. We dive into what makes Fingersmith memorable, as well as where its structure overstays its welcome. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 29, 2021 |
Jagged Little Mill, a Don Quixote miniseries - Episodes 9 & 10
5658
Enjoy another episode of our latest show-within-a-show! We're reading Edith Grossman's translation of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes a few chapters at a time. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption. These episodes cover Chapters 10-26 of Part Two. In Episode 9, someone enchants "Dulcinea" and Don Quixote fights a mysterious new foe. In Episode 10, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza attend a wedding and do battle with a puppet show. Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 26, 2021 |
Ep 504 - The First Fifteen Lives of Henry August, by Claire North
3679
Groundhog Day meets the apocalypse in this week's book, in which the end of the world is approaching at an ever-faster pace through each of Harry August's successive lifetimes spent on earth. Hope you like paradoxes! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 22, 2021 |
Ep 503 - White Noise, by Don DeLillo
4224
DeLillo's award-winning breakthrough novel is a satirical rumination on the fear of death while living in a hyper-consumerist America inundated with information delivered by modern technology. Did we mention it was written in the 80s? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 15, 2021 |
Ep 502 - Convenience Store Woman, by Sayaka Murata
3505
This week's book observes society from the outside, asking occasionally uncomfortable questions about what it means to "progress" and to "fit in" and who gets to decide whether a person is doing those things. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 08, 2021 |
Ep 501 - Haunted Ohio: Ghostly Tales from the Buckeye State, by Chris Woodyard (Bonus Episode)
4457
We close out Spooktober with a cornucopia of spooky stories from a state we both have a relationship to. Join us for a conversation about ghostly grandpas, paranormal presidents, and spectral students. For more on our bonus episodes, head to patreon.com/overduepod. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 05, 2021 |
Ep 500 - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium #1), by Stieg Larsson
5757
For the Big 500, we go to Sweden to solve a murder and also some financial crimes. And much like The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, we also go on at some length about the specs of classic Macintosh computers. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 01, 2021 |
Ep 499 - Her Body and Other Parties, by Carmen Maria Machado
3842
Eight stories. Eight women (and plenty more). Eight experiments in genre and form that each explore modern horrors. Carmen Maria Machado's debut short story collection is filled with weird fiction and intimate nightmares, making it a fitting entry for Spooktober 2021. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 25, 2021 |
Ep 498 - Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
4169
A run-down mansion decades past its former glory, a headstrong heroine, a creepy family, and mushrooms all come together to form a perfect, spooky storm in this week's episode. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 18, 2021 |
Ep 497 - Peace, by Gene Wolfe
3565
Spooktober continues! A narrator wanders rooms in his old house, telling the reader stories about his life. Is he an old man responding to a psychological evaluation? Is he a ghost recounting (and selectively editing) his best and worst memories? Will we ever know peace from the miasma of possibilities? Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 11, 2021 |
Ep 496 - The Invisible Man, by H.G. Wells
3042
Spooktober 2021 kicks off with a book about a jerk who turned himself invisible and then was still a jerk! The titular invisible man is a forerunner to a hundred comic book villains, who all suffered some kind of scientific mishap at their own hands and then took it as an excuse to become Evil. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 04, 2021 |
Jagged Little Mill, a Don Quixote miniseries - Episodes 7 & 8
5699
Enjoy another episode of our newest show-within-a-show! We're reading Edith Grossman's translation of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes a few chapters at a time. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption. These episodes cover Chapters 43-52 of Part One, and the Prologue and Chapters 1-9 of Part Two. In Episode 7, a few more ancillary characters get their moment in the sun before Don Quixote's companions "enchant" him and bring him home. But Cervantes has heard that Quixote rode again! If only those stories were out there somewhere... In Episode 8, apparently everyone in Don Quixote's world knows about the novel Don Quixote now? And they sure have opinions! Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 01, 2021 |
Ep 495 - Eragon, by Christopher Paolini (w/ Natasha from Unspoiled!)
5907
Natasha from the Unspoiled podcast joins us this week to hatch a podcast about Eragon, a book that borrows freely from every other fantasy/sci-fi story that existed as of its creation in the early 2000s. Find more from Unspoiled here! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 27, 2021 |
Ep 494 - The Boxcar Children, by Gertrude Chandler Warner
4006
It's time to solve the mystery of the Boxcar Children! (Or is it The Box-Car Children?) Warner's novel about a quartet of self-sufficient kiddos underwent a major revision 20 years after its debut AND it spawned dozens of mystery-focused sequels despite there not really being a mystery in the original. Tune in to hear about our own secret hideouts and to learn about Andrew's favorite new website for author research. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 20, 2021 |
Ep 493 - Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf
3319
Craig and Andrew said they would record the podcast themselves. This very modern episode about a very modern novel discusses Woolf's signature writing style, the regrets of a postwar British people, and when (or where) you might find yourself Thinking Big. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 13, 2021 |
Ep 492 - Too Like the Lightning, by Ada Palmer
4052
Ada Palmer's Too Like the Lightning is mostly concerned with big historical questions like "what if nationality had nothing to do with geography" and "what if a boy could make toys come to life," but it also deals with things like "what if noticing gender were a fetish" and "what if all the world's leaders were secretly slamming each other." Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 06, 2021 |
Ep 491 - Space Jam, by Nancy E. Krulik (Bonus Episode)
4369
Everybody get up it's time to read now. We got a podcast goin' now. Welcome to the Space Jam! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 03, 2021 |
Ep 490 - East of Eden, by John Steinbeck
4213
After 488 episodes, we finally return to ol' Johnny Steinbeck. East of Eden mixes autobiography, pastoral fiction, and Biblical allegory -- a cocktail that has dismayed critics and excited audiences for decades. We dig into what works in this sprawling story and what might leave some readers wanting more. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 30, 2021 |
Ep 489 - The Public Burning, by Robert Coover
3930
This book is a work of "faction" (that's "fact" plus "fiction") about Richard Nixon's interactions with the physical manifestation(s) of Uncle Sam in the run-up to the executions of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. So, uh, a weird one. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 23, 2021 |
Ep 488 - Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng
3835
There are small flames all over the place! Well, specifically all over a family's house in Shaker Heights, OH in the late 1990s. Ng's bestselling sophomore effort dives into two different but intertwined families whose lives are flip-turned-upside-down by a conflagration of personal mysteries, teenage desires, and a tense adoption case. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 16, 2021 |
Ep 487 - Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie
3758
Everyone! There's been a MURDER! And the person who committed it is still listening to THIS VERY PODCAST!! While we try to figure this out you should definitely listen to us talk about Hercule Poirot, the unassuming-ish detective who is here to discover your deepest darkest secrets and chew bubblegum and is all out of bubblegum. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 09, 2021 |
Ep 486 - Moonglow, by Kristen Callihan (w/ Heaving Bosoms)
7588
Join us for a trip back to Sherlock Holmes Times, as Melody and Erin from the Heaving Bosoms podcast help us talk about Kristen Callihan's Moonglow. The second book in the Darkest London series, Moonglow brings the romance and the supernatural lore in a way that keeps all four of us talking. You can find more from our new friends at the Heaving Bosoms podcast here. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 02, 2021 |
Jagged Little Mill, a Don Quixote miniseries - Episodes 5 & 6
5825
Enjoy another episode of our newest show-within-a-show! We're reading Edith Grossman's translation of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes a few chapters at a time. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption. These episodes cover Chapters 28-42. In Episode 5, Don Quixote rejoins the party. and everyone decides to shack up in the only inn/castle in all of Spain. Secondary characters step into the spotlight with their own stories, including a novel-within-a-novel called The Man Who Was Recklessly Curious. In Episode 6, Don Quixote takes the backseat for a few more chapters. We have to close the book on Cardenio's Crew, finish the story of the Two Friends, and meet a few more ancillary characters who just love this inn. Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 30, 2021 |
Ep 485 - Heap House (The Iremonger Trilogy #1), by Edward Carey
3757
In this kid goth Victorian house, objects talk...but only to the people who can listen! Find out what happens to Clod Iremonger and Lucy Pennant in this creepy-yet-kid-friendly novel about a bunch of people who live near (and develop a symbiotic relationship with) trash. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 26, 2021 |
Ep 484 - The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende
4062
The House of the Spirits is a multi-generational, lightly-magical-realism-y Chilean novel that eventually ends up being about Piochet's military coup, but it's also about the importance of studying events over a long span of time to come to a deeper understanding of why things happen the way they do. Something we could all stand to do more of, honestly. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 19, 2021 |
Ep 483 - Trainspotting, by Irvine Welsh
4000
This sensational punk novel from 1993 got attention because it depicts a LOT: drug use, sex, and all sorts of deviance in late 20th-century Edinburgh. You may even be familiar with the film adaptation starring a young Obi-Wan Kenobi! We also discuss Welsh's connections to (and opinions of) local government, the joy of the beautiful game, and why Craig's cultural references stop in the mid 2000s. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 12, 2021 |
Ep 482 - Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #1), by Tamsyn Muir (Bonus Episode)
4132
We've got lesbian necromancers! We've got spooky mansion murder mysteries! We've got MEMES! What else could you need in your space fantasy? How about a lively chat debating the pronunciation of "Doge"? Find out more about our bonus episode recordings at patreon.com/overduepod. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 09, 2021 |
Ep 481 - Impostor Syndrome, by Kathy Wang
3606
It's beach season! And that means it's time for beach reads (whatever that means). We discuss the loose meaning of this genre-slash-marketing-term-slash-state-of-mind, plus a very recent book about a Russian spy who has made it to the top of a fictional (but all-too-recognizable) American tech company. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 05, 2021 |
Ep 480 - The Hours, by Michael Cunningham
3833
The Pulitzer Prize-winning The Hours is a late 20th-century homage to and interrogration of Virginia Woolf's novel Mrs. Dalloway. One woman writes it, one woman reads it, and one woman lives it. Now you can listen to us talk about it! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 28, 2021 |
Ep 479 - Giovanni's Room, by James Baldwin
3510
If you want to read a book where a well-adjusted character responds well to questions about their own sexuality, Giovanni's Room ain't it! But its depiction of one character's internal conflict is still compelling and relevant decades after its release. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 21, 2021 |
Ep 478 - The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehisi Coates
3881
Celebrated author and essayist Ta-Nehisi Coates entered the world of fiction in 2019 with The Water Dancer. A combination of his appreciation for superheroes and his years spent researching the Antebellum South, it's a book that tries to marry critique of American history with supernatural adventure. It also argues pretty hard for the power of remembrance. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 14, 2021 |
Ep 477 - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
4278
If you've ever read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and thought to yourself "this book is an interesting read except for the part at the end where Tom Sawyer shows up" then buddy I have a book podcast for you (it's this one). Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 07, 2021 |
Ep 476 - Moon Quest (Choose Your Own Adventure), by Anson Montgomery
4650
This week we choose our own lunar adventure! Join us as we learn some moon facts, climb on moon rocks, and make some choices about whether or not to meet Moon Separatists. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 31, 2021 |
Ep 475 - Nancy Drew #1 - The Secret of the Old Clock, by Carolyn Keene
3750
Carolyn Keene wasn't a real person, and we suspect that the Secret of the Old Clock might not actually meet the technical definition of a "mystery"? But dang if that plucky Nancy Drew and her confident stride aren't fun to talk about anyway. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 24, 2021 |
Jagged Little Mill, a Don Quixote miniseries - Episodes 3 & 4
5517
Enjoy another episode of our newest show-within-a-show! We're reading Edith Grossman's translation of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes a few chapters at a time. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption. These episodes cover Chapters 15-27. In Episode 3, Don Quixote, the Knight of the Sorrowful Face, and his companion Sancho Panza - after getting their butts kicked up and down the Spanish countryside - bicker about the necessity of getting their butts kicked up and down the Spanish countryside. In Episode 4, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza lose their donkey (or do they?) before encountering the scorned lover Cardenio. Time to learn this raggedy man's backstory! Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 21, 2021 |
Ep 474 - Gaudy Night, by Dorothy L. Sayers
3737
It's disorienting to read the tenth book in a longrunning detective fiction series without reading any of the books that came before, but Gaudy Night is noteworthy because its heroine Harriet Vane is a precursor to many many women found in today's mystery novels. Just come prepared for the romantic parts and the parts about English high society that all make it take longer to figure out who did the crimes. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 17, 2021 |
Ep 473 - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
3884
Tom Sawyer, a 19th-century amalgam of Zack Morris and Dennis the Menace, has much to teach us about the joys of boyhood and adventure in the pre-Civil War United States. Twain, by extension, has plenty to teach us about racial stereotypes and how they can bog down even the most charming of adventure stories. Check out our previous Mark Twain episode on The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 10, 2021 |
Ep 472 - Lost Cat, by Caroline Paul and Wendy MacNaughton (Bonus Episode)
4157
April's bonus episode uses Caroline Paul and Wendy MacNaughton’s illustrated sort-of-memoir Lost Cat: A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology as a springboard to talk about being a Cat Person, loss, pandemic brain, and the fact that more books for adults should be illustrated. Find out more about our bonus episode recordings at patreon.com/overduepod. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 07, 2021 |
Ep 471 - Pippi Longstocking, by Astrid Lindgren
4094
What is Pippi Longstocking? A precocious nine-year-old child with a healthy disregard for The System? A Terminator? An elder god who dabbles in mortal affairs, eternally developing tests for us and finding us wanting? The answer might be "all of the above. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 03, 2021 |
Ep 470 - The Tiger's Wife, by Téa Obreht
3815
Téa Obreht's award-winning debut novel is about a doctor in a war-torn Balkan country, piecing together her grandfather's life one story at a time. Is it a magical realism? Is it mostly about animals? Is it surprisingly resonant with our Current Societal Moment™? Find out the answers to these questions and more on this week's episode. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 26, 2021 |
Ep 469 - Coraline, by Neil Gaiman
3569
Join us as we journey down a dark corridor to a parallel world where we are friends and host a book podcast together but our eyes are shiny black buttons and we give you a vaguely uneasy feeling when we invite you to listen to us... forever. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 19, 2021 |
Feed Drop: The History of Literature - Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
3709
This isn't an episode of Overdue, it's a Feed Drop! We wanted to share with you an episode of The History of Literature, a podcast about great stories and why we love them. To use host Jacke Wilson's words, the show "takes a fresh look at some of the most compelling examples of creative genius the world has ever known." It's brought to you by the folks at the Podglomerate. You can find more info on The History of Literature here. And don't worry, there'll still be a regularly scheduled episode of Overdue on Monday. But in the meantime, enjoy listening to this discussion of this classic Russian novel! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 15, 2021 |
Ep 468 - The Mouse and the Motorcycle, by Beverly Cleary
3361
Clearly it is time we covered Beverly Cleary! In addition to her numerous books starring Ramona Quimby, the late titan of children's fiction penned several novels about a mouse named Ralph who rides a motorcycle. Not quite sure what else you need to know, to be honest. There's a kid named Keith. He and Ralph become friends. Also, we solve the energy crisis thanks to Ralph's motorcycle. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 12, 2021 |
Ep 467 - Farthing, by Jo Walton
3781
"What if the Axis Powers won World War II?" is one of the most-asked questions in all of speculative fiction, but Jo Walton's Farthing asks "what if Britain didn't exactly LOSE World War II, but ended up sliding into fascism anyway?" Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 05, 2021 |
Feed Drop: Storybound - "Copperopolis" by Tommy Orange
1808
This isn't an episode of Overdue, it's a Feed Drop! We wanted to share with you an episode of Storybound featuring Tommy Orange reading his short story "Copperopolis" with sound design by Ryan Dann. Storybound is a radio theater program from the folks at Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate. Each episode is a chance to hear a contemporary author read their own work, designed with immersive sound environments. You can find more info on Storybound here, and you can read more about the author and composer here. And don't worry, there'll still be a regularly scheduled episode of Overdue on Monday. But in the meantime, enjoy listening to a professional writer professionally read their own words! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 01, 2021 |
Ep 466 - Ash, by Malinda Lo
3609
What if Cinderella didn't fall for Prince Charming? What if she developed a rich, endearing relationship with the King's Huntress instead? Malinda Lo's retelling of Cinderella blends cultural traditions and remixes key tropes, but also remains true to the folk tale's reverence for love and magic. (Listen, the big boat was floated while we were recording this episode. Our jokes were timely when we made them.) Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 29, 2021 |
Jagged Little Mill, a Don Quixote miniseries - Episodes 1 & 2
5406
Welcome to our newest show-within-a-show! We're reading Edith Grossman's translation of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes a few chapters at a time. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption. These episodes cover Chapters 1-14. In Episode 1, we do some table-setting on the author and translation, and then we dive into the first four chapters of the story. In Episode 2, our hero recruits the squire Sancho Panza and goes tilting after some windmills. Also we hear a whole story about a guy who died from lovesickness. Join us as we meet this errant knight-errant! Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 26, 2021 |
Ep 465 - On a Pale Horse (Incarnations of Immortality #1), by Piers Anthony
3471
What if Death was a job, that a guy did? On a Pale Horse has an interesting theology and viewpoint on morality, even if the book's women characters are paper-thin and Piers Anthony is kind of a jabroni. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 22, 2021 |
Ep 464 - The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander
3149
It's time to post at the top of the key and shoot some literary hoops! Pick and roll with us into a poetic novel about brotherhood, family, and passing the rock. Alexander's poetry in The Crossover is eclectic and energetic, which makes for a fun read whether you stan LeBron James or Nikki Giovanni or both! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 15, 2021 |
Ep 463 - Journey to the Center of the Earth, by Jules Verne
3696
We don't actually get to the center of the earth this week, but we do TRY to get there, and that has made all the difference. Fans of Craig's French accent get a lot to chew on in this one. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 08, 2021 |
Ep 462 - Overdue Q&A #4 (Bonus Episode)
4302
It's been a couple of years, so we figured it was time for another listener Q&A! This time we tackle hard-hitting questions like "what kind of books does your baby like" and "what is the best pasta shape." For more information on our bonus episodes, visit patreon.com/overduepod. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 05, 2021 |
Ep 461 - The Blue Castle, by L.M. Montgomery
3557
What if the celebrated author of a classic children's novel wanted to write about Adult issues like spinsterhood, pariah-hood, and being told you only have a year to live? L.M. Montgomery asked this question of herself as she sat down to write The Blue Castle. Join us for a discussion of obnoxious families, fairy tales, and botched diagnoses. Check out our previous L.M. Montgomery episode on Anne of Green Gables. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 01, 2021 |
Ep 460 - A Promised Land, by Barack Obama (w/ Kamille Washington)
5842
Returning guest Kamille Washington joins us this week to chat about A Promised Land, the first in former President Barack Obama's (planned) two-part presidential autobiography. We talk about the functions these books serve, both for the writer and the reader, and whether this book's recounting of Obama's early presidency squares with our experience with and memory of it a decade later (apologies to our listeners without a working knowledge of US politics, this one might be a little inaccessible). Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 22, 2021 |
Ep 459 - The Stone Sky (Broken Earth #3), by N.K. Jemisin
3797
N.K. Jemisin's award-winning Broken Earth trilogy concludes with two powerful magic users trying to harness the moon to bring about an apocalypse to end all apocalypses. We discuss how this book decides to stick its landing, including the impressive detour it takes to do an audacious amount of world-building for a closing entry in a series. Just coming to the series now? Check out our episodes on the previous books: The Fifth Season and The Obelisk Gate. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 15, 2021 |
Ep 458 - The Ziggurat, by Gene Wolfe
3604
Gene Wolfe is a sci-fi author's sci-fi author, best known for his descriptive language and a penchant for unreliable narrators. To attempt to discover the REAL meaning of The Ziggurat, we take a break in the middle of this episode to read the story again. It only sort of helps. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 08, 2021 |
Ep 457 - The Comet by W.E.B. Dubois and Woeful Tales from Mahigul by Ursula K. Le Guin
3606
We're celebrating the fiction-filled and fictional holiday of Short Story Week by sharing two short stories with y'all this week. First up is The Comet, a speculative sci-fi tale by civil rights activist and writer W.E.B. DuBois from his collection Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil. After that is Woeful Tales from Mahigul, a short story collection within a short story collection by Ursula K. Le Guin from her collection Changing Planes. Check out our previous LeGuin episodes on The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas and The Dispossessed. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 01, 2021 |
Ep 456 - The Fat Woman Next Door is Pregnant, by Michel Tremblay
3150
It's time to read a prominent work by a preeminent Canadian (specifically Québécois) author! Join us in Montreal in 1942 and meet a family with lots of problems but lots of heart. Tremblay's known for insightful and whimsical character work, so it's fitting that we spend the bulk of the episode delving into the novel's deep roster of memorable characters. Also Canadian history is pretty interesting! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 25, 2021 |
Ep 455 - Ancillary Justice (Imperial Radch #1), by Ann Leckie
3434
Ancillary Justice is a novel take on sci-fi's "collective consciousness" trope. What if, when cut off from the rest of its collective, an individual member of a collective consciousness just went on existing as an individual? And also what if they were thrust into the center of high-stakes intergalactic political drama? Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 18, 2021 |
Ep 454 - The Obelisk Gate (Broken Earth #2), by N.K. Jemisin
3591
The second entry in N.K. Jemisin's award-winning Broken Earth series is centered on a mother/daughter pair of magic users, each learning new ways to use their abilities to heal their shattered world. It is, of course, the second book in a planned trilogy, so we discuss how well it sets up events that will be delivered on in the next book. Just coming to the series now? Check out our episode on the first book: The Fifth Season. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 11, 2021 |
Ep 453 - 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas, by Jacqueline Frost (Bonus Episode)
4507
It's a bit late, but this year we trade a sexy holiday book for a murder mystery holiday book. After a local businessman/pervert turns up dead, it's up to Holly White and her friends in the town of Mistletoe, Maine to figure out who did it and to clear her best friend's name. Find out how to join us for bonus episode recordings at patreon.com/overduepod. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 08, 2021 |
Ep 452 - Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
3507
It's not referenced as often as George Orwell's 1984, but Aldous Huxley's Brave New World is in some ways a dystopia that's closer to our current reality: a society modeled around a production line, designed to pacify its citizenry while maximizing consumption in whatever way possible. Or maybe that's just our read on it!! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 04, 2021 |
Genie Babies, a One Thousand and One Nights miniseries - Episode 7
3519
Welcome to the finale of Genie Babies, a magic carpet ride of a podcast from the boys here at Overdue! On this show-within-a-show, we're reading Husain Haddawy's translation of Muhsin Mahdi's manuscript of The Thousand and One Nights (also known by its westernized title, The Arabian Nights). Some Patreon supporters get these episodes early, but we always release them for general consumption later on. In this closing episode, we share stories we've yet to discuss as well as some not included in our edition. Stories covered include: Aladdin, Ali-Baba and the Forty Thieves, the Story of the Golden Apples, and more. Programming note: keep an eye on our social feeds for the announcement of our next longread project. Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 31, 2020 |
Ep 451 - Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell
3937
"There's rosemary, that's for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember." Maggie O'Farrell's prize-winning novel Hamnet is one of remembrance -- a work of historical fiction about guilt, loss, and the people who live in the margins of a Great Author's biography. Come to marvel at how skillfully O'Farrell shunts William Shakespeare off-stage, stick around for the randy apple storage scene. Thank you all for listening to our show this year! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 28, 2020 |
Ep 450 - The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler
3432
Hey dicks and dames, this week we ankle down to the hoosegow to talk about Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep. You better hope we can finish talking about it before we get our clocks punched! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 21, 2020 |
Ep 449 - Never Tell, by Selena Montgomery (w/ Sophie Brookover)
3988
Our friend Sophie Brookover (co-author of Two Bossy Dames) joins us this week to discuss Never Tell, a romantic thriller written under a nom de plume by prominent politician and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams. It's about a talented criminal psychologist trying to move on from a violent past and the reporter she falls for after that past catches up with her. Learn more about Stacey Abrams and her work in Georgia at fairfight.com. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 14, 2020 |
Ep 448 - Palimpsest, by Catherynne M. Valente
3799
If you're into really focused, plot-driven fantasy, the vague and dreamy world of Palimpsest might not be for you. But if you're into people made out of bees and horny trains that adhere to no schedule but their own, you might just be able to spend a few nights there. Note: this episode bears the Explicit tag because we do talk about some Adult Situations. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 07, 2020 |
Genie Babies, a One Thousand and One Nights miniseries - Episodes 5 & 6
5536
Welcome to another episode of Genie Babies, a magic carpet ride of a podcast from the boys here at Overdue! On this show-within-a-show, we're reading Husain Haddawy's translation of Muhsin Mahdi's manuscript of The Thousand and One Nights (also known by its westernized title, The Arabian Nights). Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption. In the first half, you'll hear us discuss what misfortunates befall a beloved hunchback and the stories his assailants use to save themselves. In the second, we meet a garrulous barber and his many unfortunate brothers. Stories covered in Nights 102-170 include: The Story of the Hunchback Parts 1 & 2, which include tales from several subjects of the King of China and a barber who won't shut up. Programming note: this is our penultimate episode of Genie Babies. Our next and final installment will be a mix of closing thoughts and stories we didn't have time to cover. Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 04, 2020 |
Ep 447 - The Graduate, by Charles Webb
3532
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? Our podcast turns its lonely ears to you. Woo-woo-ooo The Graduate is a story about the ennuied Benjamin Braddock, the provocative Mrs. Robinson, and the affair they embark upon that upends their lives. The iconic 1967 film adaptation is perhaps more famous than Webb's book, but the novel does contain all of the classic lines and moments you remember. Even the wedding and the bus at the end! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 30, 2020 |
Ep 446 - The Buried Giant, by Kazuo Ishiguro
3561
The Buried Giant is a sort of inversion of a typical fantasy novel - instead of a young person setting out to change the world, we get some aging heroes at the end of the Arthurian era trying to decide how everything is going to wind down. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 23, 2020 |
Ep 445 - Topdog/Underdog, by Suzan-Lori Parks
3349
This Pulitzer Prize-winning play is about two brothers, Lincoln and Booth, and the elaborate con that is their shared history. Tune in for a conversation about Suzan-Lori Parks' place in American theater, some patter from the street game three-card monte, and the open question that haunts your hosts: who is top dog of Overdue? Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 16, 2020 |
Ep 444 - Charmed Life (Chrestomanci #1), by Diana Wynne Jones
3281
Is Chrestomanci a type of magic? A government office? A person? Find out in the first of Diana Wynne Jones' Chrestomanci novels. Join us for a discussion of the nine-lived Cat and his sister Gwendolyn, magical pranks, and mystical multiverses. Looking for more DWJ? Check out Ep 201 - Howl's Moving Castle. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 09, 2020 |
Ep 443 - Lovecraft Country, by Matt Ruff (Bonus Episode)
4173
Matt Ruff's 2016 novel about two Black families fighting the forces of evil riffs on Lovecraftian fiction by focusing in on the cosmic horror that is America's racist past, present, and future. We dive into each of the interconnected stories and spend some time comparing the overall vibe to that of HBO's recent TV adaptation. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. Find our how to join us for bonus episode recordings at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 06, 2020 |
Ep 442 - The Last Wish (Introducing The Witcher), by Andrzej Sapkowski
3819
Geralt of Rivia is a witcher, which means he travels the realm witching. What does that mean exactly? It's a little unclear! But Sapkowksi's protagonist and the world he inhabits have proven popular enough to warrant several novels, videogames, and screen adaptations. Toss a coin to your podcast, why don'tcha? For more on voting in the 2020 election here in the United States, head to votesaveamerica.com. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 02, 2020 |
Ep 441 - Demon Theory, by Stephen Graham Jones
3986
If you wanted more of your books to be metatextual pseudo-screenplays then Demon Theory is for you! If you do not want your books to be that, however, Demon Theory may not be for you. For more on voting in the 2020 election here in the United States, head to votesaveamerica.com. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 26, 2020 |
Ep 440 - The Phantom of the Opera, by Gaston Leroux
3873
The Opera's alive with the sound of music! It's time to dive into the serialized story-slash-novel that spawned one of the most successful musicals of all time. (The one by Andrew Lloyd Webber, maybe you've heard of it?) It's pretty different, it seems? For more on voting in the 2020 election here in the United States, head to votesaveamerica.com. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 19, 2020 |
Ep 439 - Revenge of the Russian Ghost (Choose Your Own Adventure), by Jay Leibold
5152
This week we choose to travel to Mother Russia to make jingoistic jokes and hang out with Rasputin, every 90s kid's favorite historical figure! Not sure what's going on with the voices in this one. For more on voting in the 2020 election here in the United States, head to votesaveamerica.com. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 12, 2020 |
Ep 438 - Midnight Sun (A Twilight Novel), by Stephenie Meyer
4840
Welcome to Spooktober 2020! What's scarier than a story about a teenage girl who falls in with a family of vampires? 160 more pages than the original story and it's all from the sad vampire boy's perspective! Meyer's companion novel to the original Twilight reminds us what we did and didn't like about the series, as well as fleshes out a bit of the story from Edward's gleaming eyes. But, really, it's just very long. For more on the Quileute Move to Higher Ground Project, head to mthg.org. For more on voting in the 2020 election here in the United States, head to votesaveamerica.com. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 05, 2020 |
Genie Babies, a One Thousand and One Nights miniseries - Episodes 3 & 4
6106
Welcome to another episode of Genie Babies, a magic carpet ride of a podcast from the boys here at Overdue! On this show-within-a-show, we're reading Husain Haddawy's translation of Muhsin Mahdi's manuscript of The Thousand and One Nights (also known by its westernized title, The Arabian Nights). Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption. In the first half, you'll hear us discuss the beginning of a "wacky" night with three sisters and their houseguests. In the second, we'll conclude the tales of the dervishes and get to the bottom of some magic mysteries. Stories covered in Nights 28-69 include: The Story of the Porter and the Three Ladies, which includes tales from three dervishes, two ladies, and a nosy caliph. Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 02, 2020 |
Ep 437 - Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, et al
4020
This week we answer the question on everyone's minds: why, the last man? This mid-2000s graphic novel imagines a world without men, a specific kind of apocalypse with a different flavor from The Leftovers or other "what if X suddenly disappeared from Earth forever" fiction. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 28, 2020 |
Ep 436 - How Much of These Hills Is Gold, by C Pam Zhang
3599
C Pam Zhang's Booker Prize-listed debut novel focuses on a family of Chinese immigrants working coal mines, panning streams, and laying railroads in the American West. Her characters, myth-making, and lyrical style work to correct the historical record with specificity and humanity. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 21, 2020 |
Ep 435 - The Yiddish Policemen's Union, by Michael Chabon
4134
Michael Chabon's 2007 alternate history novel is a murder mystery featuring a hard-boiled detective, though neither the detective nor the murder mystery are the most memorable parts of it. The alternate history part, along with Chabon's prose, are enough to make up for whatever other shortcomings the novel might have. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 14, 2020 |
Ep 434 - Roadside Picnic, by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
3576
What if all we knew about alien culture was their garbage? Or is it their garbage? The Strugatsky brothers' most famous novel is about a world where stalkers crawl through hazardous Zones for precious artifacts. Also it's about hope, bureaucracy, and our relationship to the unknown. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 07, 2020 |
Ep 433 - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games #0), by Suzanne Collins (Bonus Episode)
5094
We just couldn't resist another trip to Panem! This origin story for the trilogy's primary villain, Coriolanus Snow, takes us all the way back to the 10th Annual Hunger Games. Things are a little less flashy, but no less deadly. Struggle along with us through the hunger, through the games, and through the limits of fiction told through the antagonist's eyes. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. Find our how to join us for bonus episode recordings at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 04, 2020 |
Ep 432 - Harvey, by Mary Chase
3478
Join us and our possibly imaginary gigantic anthropomorphic rabbit for a discussion about a play that just HAPPENS to be about a man who is friends with a possibly imaginary gigantic anthropomorphic rabbit. Funny how that works out! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 31, 2020 |
Ep 431 - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith
4034
We've all heard that a tree grows in Brooklyn. But what ELSE grows there? A love of reading? A bootstraps narrative? We get to the root of the mystery this week on Overdue. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 24, 2020 |
Ep 430 - Eggs, by Jerry Spinelli
3217
Eggs is a book that has eggs in it, but also adolescent pain and friendship. Eggs! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 17, 2020 |
Ep 429 - Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver
3704
Lauren Oliver's first novel is about a teenage girl forced to relive the last day of her life over and over again. What can she change? What should she change? And how will she change? Find out the answers to those questions and more (namely, how all time loop fiction is beholden to the 1993 film Groundhog Day) in this week's episode. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 10, 2020 |
Ep 428 - Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi
4136
Children of Blood and Bone takes familiar fantasy tropes and puts them in a new context, which makes them unexpectedly poignant and powerful. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 03, 2020 |
Genie Babies, a One Thousand and One Nights miniseries - Episodes 1 & 2
7075
Welcome to Genie Babies, a magic carpet ride of a podcast from the boys here at Overdue! On our newest show-within-a-show, we're reading Husain Haddawy's translation of Muhsin Mahdi's manuscript of The Thousand and One Nights (also known by its westernized title, The Arabian Nights). Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption. In the first half, you'll hear us discuss the some of the background scholarship as well as the stories that setup the collection. In the second, we'll dive deeper into some nested tales where demons truly thrive. In both halves, we'll grapple with the heaping helpings of misogyny that accompany these wild tales! Stories covered in Nights 1-27 include: The Story of King Shahrayar and Shahrazad, His Visier's Daughter; The Story of the Merchant and the Demon; and The Story of the Fisherman and the Demon, which includes tales about King Yunan, a talking parrot, a She-Ghoul, and a stony prince. Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 01, 2020 |
Ep 427 - Deacon King Kong, by James McBride
3742
Everything happens for a reason in James McBride's new novel. It's September of 1969 and a doddering Brooklyn deacon just shot the neighborhood's top drug dealer. The events set in motion touch every member of the community - from its 102-year-old founder to the fire ants in the boiler room - and help them build a future as the world changes around them. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 27, 2020 |
Ep 426 - The Hour of the Star, by Clarice Lispector
3837
Can our podcast truly capture the depth of a renowned Brazilian novelist's final work? This question mirrors one asked by the narrator of The Hour of the Star, whose attempts to portray a young woman's pitiable existence are hindered by his fears that he will never do her story justice. Also, Craig talks into a sock. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 20, 2020 |
Ep 425 - Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3), by Suzanne Collins
5562
The Games may have ended, but we're still hungry! We travel back to Panem for the close of Collins' trilogy about Katniss, Peeta, and revolution. It's time to talk (a)political messages, rickety love triangles, the limits of a hero's POV. If you aren't caught up on our Hunger Games journey, go give Episode 400 or Episode 410 a listen! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 13, 2020 |
Ep 424 - My Sister the Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite
3336
Sometimes a book is about exactly what it says on the cover. Oyinkan Braithwaite's debut novel is plenty dark but surprisingly funny, exploring sibling dynamics heightened by the fact that there is serial killing involved. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 06, 2020 |
Ep 423 - The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs, by Steve Brusatte (Bonus Episode)
4376
Craig loves dinosaurs, so Andrew let him talk for an hour about Steve Brusatte's recent book for dino devotees. Time to talk T-Rexes, Sauropods, and graphic depictions of the end of the world with our live Patreon chat. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. Special thanks to the Patreon supporters who joined us in the live chat. For more info on how to participate in bonus episode recordings, head to patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 03, 2020 |
Ep 422 - An Unseen Attraction, by KJ Charles (w/ Margaret H. Willison)
4013
Special guest Margaret H. Willison joins us this week to talk about the consensual, gay, historically accurate romance novels of KJ Charles. Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 29, 2020 |
Ep 421 - The Vegetarian, by Han Kang
3480
How could a dream upend your life? Would you stop eating meat? Embark on a ruinous affair? Desert your family? Han Kang's The Vegetarian asks visceral questions about our capacity for violence and what'd be willing to give up to be rid of it. Our new theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 22, 2020 |
Ep 420 - Candide, by Voltaire
2781
Candide is a novella-length takedown of the idea that we are living in the best of all possible worlds, as ordained by God. These days it's hard to believe we need a whole book about this but it's pretty funny anyway? Our new theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 15, 2020 |
Ep 419 - Inferno, by Dan Brown (HELLBOYS Bonus Episode)
5427
Noted symbologist Robert Langdon has to "solve" a "mystery" that "references" Dante's Inferno! Let's see if he can crack the clues before the whole world succumbs to a transhumanist disease (yes, that's a real sentence that makes real sense.) For context, this was originally released in late May for some of our Patreon supporters. *** As we say in the pre-show, we've donated to the Marshall Project, which seeks to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system. If you are able, we would encourage you to also support those fighting for the rights of Black folks in the face of escalating police violence. More donation links and educational resources can be found at: blacklivesmatters.carrd.co Consider ordering some books from Black-owned independent bookstores. LitHub has a great list. Want to support a beloved bookstore in Minneapolis? Help Uncle Hugo's rebuild. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 08, 2020 |
Ep 418 - Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel
3374
This week we read an (1) explicitly autobiographical (2) non-fiction (3) graphic novel, things we don't usually do! But we try to have a useful discussion anyway. This episode, like most of our shows, does not pass the Bechdel Test. Our new theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 01, 2020 |
HELLBOYS, a Divine Comedy miniseries - Episode 11
3403
Welcome to the last official installment of HELLBOYS, a Divine Comedy podcast from the boys here at Overdue! On this episode, we wrap up our journey through Robert and Jean Hollander's translation of Dante's Divine Comedy. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every other month we release them for general consumption. This episode carries us to the end where we meet a Who's Who of Biblical heroes and stare directly into the face of God (Paradiso XXVIII-XXXIII). Then it's time to reflect on our ascension from Hellboys to Heavenlads. Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 29, 2020 |
Ep 417 - Unaccustomed Earth, by Jhumpa Lahiri
3761
Jhumpa Lahiri's second short story collection focuses on the experiences of second- and third-generation Bengali-Americans, people caught between the futures they're trying to build and the pasts they're trying to honor. Her direct, compelling writing style makes these slices of life particularly affecting, as do the characters and the misfortunes that befall them. Our new theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. We hope you dig it! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 25, 2020 |
Ep 416 - Orlando: A Biography, by Virginia Woolf
4078
Orlando is an English nobleman in the 16th century who, by the end the Woolf's tongue-in-cheek biography of the character, is an English noblewoman in the 20th century. It's quite a journey for all involved! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 18, 2020 |
Ep 415 - My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry, by Fredrik Backman
3493
My grandmother asked me to tell you about this podcast. It's about a book by Swedish author Fredrik Backman, and it's about a precocious young girl named Elsa and her quest to deliver her Granny's letters of apology. It's a fairy tale - of sorts. It's also a story about coming to grips with the world's complications, with the ways in which we are all more than we appear at first glance, and with grief. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 11, 2020 |
Ep 414 - Llama Llama Red Pajama (Series), by Anna Dewdney
3573
Llama Llama Red Pajama On a podcast with his mama! We read llama books to kids To make them close their small eyelids. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 04, 2020 |
Ep 413 - Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective, by Donald J. Sobol (Bonus Episode)
3564
What's a boy to do when his dad is the bumbling Chief of Police? Solve crimes, of course! Join us as we solve The Mystery of How Donald J. Sobol Wrote Detective Fiction for Kids! Special thanks to the Patreon supporters who joined us in the live chat. For more info on how to participate in bonus episode recordings, head to patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 01, 2020 |
Ep 412 - A Death in the Family, by James Agee
3754
Fair warning: this book's a bit of a bummer! Agee's autobiographical A Death in the Family centers on the aftermath of the automobile accident that took his father's life in 1915. It's a poetic exploration of grief and trauma -- which may not be everyone's cup of tea these days! Ways we try to lighten the mood include: It's a Wonderful Life musings, Andrew's Heavenly Dogs, and a bunch of words that Craig may or may not have made up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 27, 2020 |
Ep 411 - Smoke Jumpers (Choose Your Own Adventure) by R.A. Montgomery
5115
For this, the highest of holy days, we've revisited the Choose Your Own Adventure-verse with R.A. Montgomery's Smoke Jumpers. Come for the information about what it's like to be a trainee firefighter, stay for the ranger who sounds a whole lot like Strong Bad. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 20, 2020 |
Ep 410 - Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2), by Suzanne Collins
4693
The arena calls our name again, and we must volunteer as tribute! It's time we talked about Suzanne Collins' second novel about the dystopic land of Panem and their annual Hunger Games. Tune in for a discussion of revolution, game design, and underbaked love triangles. Plus, Andrew goes a-Googlin'! If you aren't caught up on our Hunger Games journey, go give Episode 400 a listen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 13, 2020 |
HELLBOYS, a Divine Comedy miniseries - Episodes 9 & 10
5495
Welcome to another installment of HELLBOYS, a Divine Comedy podcast from the boys here at Overdue! We're continuing our journey through Robert and Jean Hollander's translation of Dante's Divine Comedy a few cantos at a time. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we combine them for general consumption. This combo episode carries us further into space where we meet some friars and Dante's grandpa (Paradiso X-XVIII) before inching closer and closer to God (Paradiso XIX-XXVII). We argue about God, learn about love, and cower before a giant eagle. Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 11, 2020 |
Ep 409 - The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
4094
The Shadow of the Wind is a complex noir-ish mystery set in post-WWII (and post-Spanish Civil War) Barcelona. Come for the endearing characters, stay for the Byzantine explanation of what is going on! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 06, 2020 |
Ep 408 - The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight #1), by Katherine Arden
3568
Katherine Arden's debut novel is a potent mix of Slavic folklore, Russian history, and good old-fashioned fantasy. We dig into which of those ingredients work best within the scope of The Bear and the Nightingale's story, but first we take a moment to debut Andrew's new classic catchphrase. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 30, 2020 |
Ep 407 - Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
3318
When Andrew read The Colour of Magic, people suggested that the beginning of the Discworld series was not necessarily the best place to start. Guards! Guards!, the eighth book in the series, is the start of its own contained-ish arc. According to our listeners and many readers, this serves as a more suitable jumping off point. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 23, 2020 |
Ep 406 - Under the Skin, by Michel Faber
3755
There are some cars you just shouldn't get into! Michel Faber's thriller Under the Skin is about Isserley, the driver of one such dangerous vehicle. Why do all the men who get into her car disappear? Is she even really human? Are you? Hop in for the answers to these questions and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 16, 2020 |
Ep 405 - Friday Black, by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
3535
Friday Black, a debut collection of short stories by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, deftly employs hyperbole to make the reader notice horrors of American life that have become less-noticeable through repetition. It’s also going to resonate with anyone who has spent any amount of time working retail on the day after Thanksgiving. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 09, 2020 |
Ep 404 - Sonic the Hedgehog: The Official Movie Novelization, by Kiel Phegley (Bonus Episode)
4032
We had a blast processing this novelization of the hit film Sonic the Hedgehog! Did you know it's based on a video game?! Gotta read fast! Special thanks to the Patreon supporters who joined us in the live chat. For more info on how to participate in bonus episode recordings, head to patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 06, 2020 |
Ep 403 - High Fidelity, by Nick Hornby (Live w/ Appointment Television)
3520
This week’s episode is our recent live show crossover event with Appointment Television at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. The Appointment Television and Overdue crews gather together to discuss the recent TV adaptation and compare it to the book from which it (and the film, and the ill-starred musical) sprung. Whether we figure out the relative superiority of books or TV as competing artistic formats is left up to the listener. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 02, 2020 |
Ep 402 - Paradise, by Toni Morrison
3660
In this challenging novel, award-winning author Toni Morrison explores how utopias are defined (and perhaps undermined) by their boundaries. The all-black town of Ruby, Oklahoma survived for decades by cordoning itself off from the outside world. But what happens when the outside world starts gnawing at the people inside? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 24, 2020 |
Ep 401 - The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin (w/ Kate Racculia)
3977
This week's book is a cozy mystery, but for kids! Author Kate Racculia joins us for a discussion of The Westing Game, which was a major inspiration for her own work (and is a completely wild read, besides). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 17, 2020 |
Ep 400 - The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
4858
What better way to celebrate a milestone episode than to make a bunch of teenagers fight each other to the death? Join us as we discuss the first entry in Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy, taking particular delight in its worldbuilding and its protagonist Katniss Everdeen. We also get into some of the film-informed Discourse that has surrounded the series since its release, and of course we take time to get our celebrities all mixed up. (Special note: Want to come see us live with our friends from Appointment Television? Head to bit.ly/booksortv for info on our live show at Kenyon College in Gambier, OH on Thursday, February 20th. It's free!) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 10, 2020 |
Ep 399 - The Wind Done Gone, by Alice Randall
3078
Welcome to Febuwary! This week’s episode is a follow-up of sorts to Episode 291, in which Andrew read Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With The Wind. The Wind Done Gone is labeled a “parody” for legal reasons but it feels somewhere in between a sequel and a critique, acknowledging the strong characters of the original but tearing down its rose-tinted nostalgia for the antebellum American South. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 03, 2020 |
HELLBOYS, a Divine Comedy miniseries - Episodes 7 & 8
6051
Welcome to another installment of HELLBOYS, a Divine Comedy podcast from the boys here at Overdue! We're continuing our journey through Robert and Jean Hollander's translation of Dante's Divine Comedy a few cantos at a time. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we combine them for general consumption. This combo episode carries us to the top of Mt. Purgatory (Purgatorio XXIII-XXXIII) and up into the stars (Paradiso I-IX). We walk through fire, visit a Garden of Eden, and meet some truly charming moon people. Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 31, 2020 |
Ep 398 - Wool, by Hugh Howey
3547
In the future, all of mankind will be confined to an underground silo, wondering when and if the world outside will ever be habitable again. But if things aren't as bad as they seem? And what if everyone in the silo isn't as alone as they think? That's the premise of Hugh Howey's Wool, a collection of stories woven together into a novel about secrets, duties, and revolution. Time to talk about climate change and what makes a short story compelling! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 27, 2020 |
Ep 397 - Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots (Bailey School Kids #1) by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Jones (w/ Alli from SSR)
4318
The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids commence with a new teacher who just MIGHT be a vampire! It's time to get to the undead bottom of this...or is it? We recorded this week's show with Alli from the SSR Podcast, a great show you should check out if you want a trip down memory lane to your middle school library. We were really honored to be included in SSR's "Manuary" lineup this year, and we hope you enjoy this hot collab! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 20, 2020 |
Ep 396 - The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood
3508
To put it mildly, a lot of stuff has happened since we released our episode on The Handmaid's Tale back in 2014. Among that stuff is the release of The Testaments, the 2019 sequel to the original book and a companion piece of sorts to the Hulu television series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 13, 2020 |
Ep 395 - The Prince, by Niccolò Machiavelli
3557
It is better to be feared than loved. The ends justify the means. King Louis sucked. These are the (clearly) famous quotes from Machiavelli's classic yet innovative work of political science. It's time to talk power, political satire, and the wonderful translation by Tim Parks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 06, 2020 |
Ep 394 - Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore (Bonus Episode)
3691
Inspired by the raunchy humor and biblical events of Christopher Moore's take on Jesus, we recorded a rowdy bonus episode with our rollicking Patreon chat. Want to join us for the next bonus recording? Head to patreon.com/overduepod to find out how. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 04, 2020 |
Ep 393 - The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
3637
The Mists of Avalon is a seminal work of fantasy fiction that centers the women of Arthurian legend such as Morgan Le Fay. Its author was a terrible person. We talk about the terrible stuff first, and then we try to unpack why the book has entertained and resonated with so many. Also - don't spend any money on this book! Donate to www.rainn.org instead. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 30, 2019 |
Ep 392 - Home for Hanukkah (Sexy Sylvie #1), by Celine Banks
3249
Book one in the one-book Sexy Sylvie series isn’t about a sexy Hanukkah miracle where one night’s worth of personal lubricant lasts for eight nights, but we had fun with it anyway. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 23, 2019 |
Ep 391 - The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
3425
The Eyre Affair is the book that you would get if Ready Player One were about literature instead of the 1980s, and also if Ready Player One was more engaging or half as clever as it thought it was. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 16, 2019 |
Ep 390 - The Cricket in Times Square, by George Selden
3394
George Selden wrote a charming story about a charming cricket named Chester who just charms the pants right off everyone living in New York City - including a cat and a mouse. And the illustrations by Garth Williams are also charming! You know what's not so charming? Liverwurst. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 09, 2019 |
Ep 389 - The Secret River, by Kate Grenville
3894
Andrew's got the week off so Craig's wife Laura joins the show again to talk about Kate Grenville's award-winning novel The Secret River. The story is an an attempt to tell more truthfully the British settlement of Australia, as through the eyes of one man sent to the penal colony that would ultimately become the country we know today. The violence he witnesses - and participates in - against Aboriginal people defines him as well as the generations that come after. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 02, 2019 |
HELLBOYS, a Divine Comedy miniseries - Episodes 5 & 6
6070
Welcome to another installment of HELLBOYS, a Divine Comedy podcast from the boys here at Overdue! We're continuing our journey through Robert and Jean Hollander's translation of Dante's Divine Comedy a few cantos at a time. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we combine them for general consumption. This combo episode carries us through the first two thirds of the Purgatorio, covering Cantos I-XXII. We climb up God's "Learn Your Lesson" mountain, meet a bunch of Dante-thirsty paparazzi, and encounter one "hell" of a Virgil stan. Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 30, 2019 |
Ep 388 - The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand
4764
Elements of Ayn Rand's Objectivist worldview hold a lot of sway in conservative American politics, so we go back to one of Rand's most significant works to see what all the fuss is about. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 25, 2019 |
Ep 387 - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken Kesey (w/ The Librarian Is In)
4112
This week, we're joined once again by Gwen and Frank from the New York Public Library's The Librarian Is In podcast, this time to talk about Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (and the movie of the same name). It's a discussion of narrator reliability, "boy books," and the long and fruitful career of Louise Fletcher. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 18, 2019 |
Ep 386 - On the Road, by Jack Kerouac
3860
What's up, daddio? Dig this, you cool cats: a podcast, burning with the soul of American individualism and the poetry of the open highway. Kerouac's legendary novel defined the Beat Generation, and it's chock-a-block with hallmarks of the era. Join us for a road trip back to the late 1940s -- an era of sweaty jazz, discarded marriages, and Benzedrine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 11, 2019 |
Ep 385 - James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl (w/ Natasha from UNSpoiled!)
3932
James Henry Trotter has a hard life. He's suffered loss. He's been mistreated. But things start looking up when a giant peach and a menagerie of bug friends come into his life! Roald Dahl's classic story of a typically-sized boy and his atypically-sized fruit is a real crowd-pleaser, even if there's a bunch of stuff we didn't remember from our childhoods. Natasha from the UNSpoiled! Show joins us to kick off Remember November festivities, wherein we read books at least one of us has read before. Breaking our own rules - how rebellious! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 04, 2019 |
Ep 384 - The Nightmare Before Christmas, by Tim Burton (Bonus Episode)
3173
This is Halloween. This is Halloween! Halloween. Halloween. Join us for a bonus episode that includes a frightening chat, horrifying drawings, and a spooky spelunk through the world of Tim Burton's (children's book?) The Nightmare Before Christmas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 01, 2019 |
Ep 383 - Psycho, by Robert Bloch
3541
Stop me if you've heard this one: a strange man who runs a motel with his mom (maybe) commits several murders before people get wise to him. At least one of them is in a shower. It's very creepy. Were you thinking of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho? Well we're not talking about it! This is a book podcast, silly! Actually we do talk a bit about what the movie lifted from the book, but we also dive into topics such as the murders that inspired Bloch, Norman Bates' murder swamp, and the prolific writer/musician Chet Williamson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 28, 2019 |
Ep 382 - Penpal, by Dathan Auerbach
3886
Come on into our spooky kitchen and let us cook you up a big steaming bowlful of creepypasta! This week's book began life as a series of Reddit posts that were later Kickstarted into a book self-published on Amazon, which is maybe the most early-2010s sentence that has ever been written. Join us for a lesson in creepy story etymology, and also a lesson in Skinhorse, the inside-out horse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 21, 2019 |
Ep 381 - The Ghost Bride, by Yangsze Choo
3419
Ever wanted to marry a ghost? Then boy do we have a book for you! Spooktober continues with Yangsze Choo's debut novel about a young woman in late 19th-century Malaya who winds up promised to a spectral groom. It's a fun book that is almost overflowing with hallmarks of different genres. Coming-of-age concerns, supernatural fantasy, historical fiction, romance: it's got a lot going on! But the heart of it all is Li Lan's entertaining exploration of the afterlife, its characters, and its bureaucracies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 14, 2019 |
Ep 380 - From Hell, by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
3468
We rip our way into Spooktober 2019 with From Hell, a 90s graphic novel from writer Alan Moore and artist Eddie Campbell about Jack the Ripper. The book presents one (possible, but unlikely) solution to the mystery, and our research leads us through a lot more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 07, 2019 |
Ep 379 - Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens
3538
Please, sir, I want some more podcast! Dickens' classic novel about a lovable urchin named Oliver Twist is equal parts social novel, mystery, and bildungsroman -- or so Charlie thought. We dive into what works and doesn't work about its depictions of London in the Industrial Revolution, Oliver's moral compass, and the titular twist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 30, 2019 |
HELLBOYS, a Divine Comedy miniseries - Episodes 3 & 4
5547
Welcome back to HELLBOYS, a Divine Comedy podcast from the boys here at Overdue! We're continuing our journey through Robert and Jean Hollander's translation of Dante's Divine Comedy a few cantos at a time. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we combine them for general consumption. This episode carries us through the back half of the Inferno, covering Cantos XVII-XXXIV. We travel through the Malebolge, meet a demon biker gang, and climb down the Devil himself! Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 27, 2019 |
Ep 378 - The God of Small Things, by Arundhati Roy
3752
The God of Small Things is about family, and loss, and India, and the caste system, and all of its disparate plot lines and character arcs come together in the end like a Seinfeld episode but with more tragedy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 23, 2019 |
Ep 377 - Lysistrata, by Aristophanes
3431
"What if women ended the Peloponnesian War, am I right?" asks Aristophanes in his classic comedy Lysistrata. Famous for its depiction of a sex strike that brings the warring Greek states to their unsexed knees, the play has been remixed countless times as generations of artists adapt its core conceit to their own times. So we figured we'd go back to the old Prince of Comedy himself to see what all the fuss is about. Talking points include comedies of bad manners, Ancient Greek props, and the "lioness on a cheese grater." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 16, 2019 |
Ep 376 - The Player of Games, by Iain M. Banks (w/ Jillian Getting)
4367
It's time to play some games! Craig's sister Jillian read Iain M. Banks' The Player of Games, one of several entries in his Culture series that explores a hegemonic utopia influencing as much of outer space as it can. Banks' ideas gameplay may be primarily analog, but he still manages to represent cultures and worlds with digital creativity. Andrew may be away, but we still find time to joke about names, make some Gatsby references, and chat about Starcraft. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 09, 2019 |
Ep 375 - The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials #3) by Philip Pullman
3986
Join us as we attempt to bring Pullman's epic god-fightin' trilogy to a close! We start with a brief recap of the first two books, and then we dive into what does and doesn't work for Andrew in the final installment. Train your spyglass on the Fall of Man, cut through bear armor with your subtle knife, and follow your golden compass to the origin of Dust. Additional talking points include Andrew's new partyboy son, motorcycle elephants, and the debut of a new segment: Andrew's Dad Moment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 02, 2019 |
Ep 374 - Annihilation, by Jeff VanderMeer (Bonus Episode w/ Christina Tucker)
3681
Friend of the show Christina Tucker (Unfriendly Black Hotties, PCHH, her new newsletter, etc.) joins us to chat about Jeff VanderMeer's novel Annihilation. It's the first of his Southern Reach trilogy, a Weird Science Fiction romp through a mysterious zone called Area X. We've got our own Area X going, replete with chicken sandwiches, Edward James Olmos, and a fun-loving chat of supporters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 30, 2019 |
Ep 373 - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers (w/ The Worst Bestsellers)
4492
This week we welcome Renata and Kait from The Worst Bestsellers to talk about Becky Chambers' first entry in the Wayfarer series: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. It's a book that's equal parts cozy AND sexy, with plenty of aliens for you to meet and/or have...stirrings about. Our conversation takes the long way from Star Trek to the Secret, exploring what it's like for folks who usually read Bad books to actually read a Good one. Caveat lictor: sometimes you have to swear in space! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 26, 2019 |
Ep 372 - Tarzan of the Apes, by Edgar Rice Burroughs
4127
The titular Tarzan of the titular Apes is a lot more than "Me Tarzan. You Jane." And Edgar Rice Burroughs is here to tell you all about how and why it's because he's the sire of an English nobleman. Join us for a chat about the lost city of Tarzana, the Ernest filmography, and the invention of stabbing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 19, 2019 |
Ep 371 - Siblings Without Rivalry, by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish (w/ Appointment Television)
4226
Andrew's Appointment Television co-hosts Kathryn VanArendonk and Margaret H. Willison join us for a chat about siblings, rivalry, and this classic of modern parenting lit from Adele Faber and Elain Mazlish. At the time of recording, Andrew's fatherhood was looming on the horizon, so Kathryn kindly shared with us how relevant the book felt to her own parenting experience. And don't worry, Craig and Margaret had plenty of wisdom to share as well. Caveat lictor: Margaret's here, so there's swearing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 12, 2019 |
Ep 370 - Knights of the Round Table (Choose Your Own Adventure) by Ellen Kushner
4329
It's time to make some more choices! Thanks to a benevolent small business owner, we've been transported back to the time of Arthurian legend and must face the biggest choice of all: food service or secretarial work! Actually, we make plenty of fun choices in Ellen Kushner's CYOA riff on the Knights of the Round Table. So join us for a bunch of boons, magic, and mannerpunk! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 05, 2019 |
Ep 369 - The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials #2), by Philip Pullman
3481
Philip Pullman followed up The Golden Compass with The Subtle Knife, the adventure of Lyra and Will on their quest to uncover the secret of Dust and (maybe, just maybe) save the world from evil forces within the Church. Like a lot of Second Stories in a Trilogy, the book builds on its predecessor's world by introducing new friends and foes and ending with a cliffhanger that ensures you'll come back for Book Three. We just have one question for Mr. Pullman: where are the bears? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 29, 2019 |
HELLBOYS, a Divine Comedy miniseries - Episodes 1 & 2
7486
Welcome to HELLBOYS, a Divine Comedy podcast from the boys here at Overdue! On our newest show-within-a-show, we're reading Robert and Jean Hollander's translation of Dante's Divine Comedy a few cantos at a time. Some Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption. First you'll hear our introduction to the show (and the translation) and our chat about Inferno I-VII. Then our journey alongside Virgil and Dante continues with an episode on Inferno VIII-XVI. Talking points include violent punishments for violent people, Dante's (literal) burn book, and Hollander's helpful student Edward. Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 26, 2019 |
Ep 368 - Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad
3309
The horror, the horror! It's time to talk about colonialism, y'all. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness has inspired plenty of stories about a dude diving deep into nature to find another dude, so we figured we'd get to the...heart...of the matter. Listen and learn what exactly the horror, the horror means and why some notable writers want nothing to do with this classic text of 19th-century imperialism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 22, 2019 |
Ep 367 - Behind Closed Doors, by B.A. Paris
3786
Behind Closed Doors is about a relationship that seems too perfect to be true - except that instead of arguing about the “right” way to load the dishwasher and the way the other person leaves cabinets hanging open all the time, Jack Angel is a full-on sociopath who locks his wife Grace in a windowless basement room and plans to do the same to her younger sister. It’s hampered a bit by dry, straightforward prose, but it’s a page-turner nevertheless. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 15, 2019 |
Ep 366 - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
3774
"What if the Napoleonic Wars but with magic?" is a great elevator pitch for Susanna Clark's sprawling novel, but it only scratches the surface of what Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell has to offer. Footnotes, Farnums, and factoids abound in this fun work of historical/alternate fiction. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 08, 2019 |
Ep 365 - Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
3219
CW: This week’s book revolves around sexual assault, which we discuss in the episode. We don’t read the specific passage and we try to be as general as possible, but feel free to skip this one if you’re not up to it. Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak is a pitch-perfect account of what it’s like to be Awkward In High School, in ways that are both funny and sad. That a two-decade-old novel still feels so relevant to our current cultural moment probably speaks poorly of us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 01, 2019 |
Ep 364 - Overdue Q&A #3 (Bonus Episode)
4241
This episode, instead of a book we read YOUR questions! Topics range from the five characters you'd meet at an Overdue dinner party to what makes a great diaper. We also have a blast chatting with our livestream audience. As always, thanks to our Patreon supporters for making these bonus episodes possible! Visit patreon.com/overduepod to find out how you can support the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 28, 2019 |
Ep 363 - The Crimson Petal and the White, by Michel Faber
4259
Michel Faber's 2002 novel The Crimson Petal and the White has been hailed as a Dickensian novel with a saucy, modern narrator. How exactly does he pull that off in an epic story steeped in the history of Victorian London? And how does he play with our own expectations of the period? Find out in this week's episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 24, 2019 |
Ep 362 - Vicious, by V.E. Schwab
3889
In this week's episode, we talk about the very nature of what makes a superhero (or an anti-hero, or a supervillain) a superhero (or anti-hero, or supervillain), in between talking about our ideal Father's Day and how Harry Potter and the D&D alignment chart informs how people of a certain age think about all fictional characters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 17, 2019 |
Ep 361 - A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry
3085
Lorraine Hansberry's classic play A Raisin in the Sun endures for its insightful portrait of a black family in Chicago fighting for a better life. Inspired by her own family's experience with racial housing discrimination, it's a complex piece about who gets to get ahead, how, and why. And of course, we had to balance the gravity of this gem from Hansberry's brief but momentous career with a deep dive on where raisins come from. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 10, 2019 |
Ep 360 - We Have Always Lived In The Castle, by Shirley Jackson
3189
Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived In The Castle shares some qualities with her best-known short story The Lottery; both feature small New England towns that are the site of some unfortunate mob action. Join us for a conversation about non-supernatural creepiness, unreliable narrators, and early flights. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 03, 2019 |
Stop! Homer Time, a miniseries on the Odyssey - Episode 13
2365
Our voyage ends with Book 24, which includes one more amazing Odysseus lie and a heaping serving of deus ex machina. Then it's time to reflect on our journey from high school English students enduring a long reading assignment to olive-oiled men who love a good epic poem. Thanks for joining us on this trek through Emily Wilson's translation of Homer's Odyssey! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 31, 2019 |
Ep 359 - Drowning Ruth, by Christina Schwarz
3595
Caveat lictor: this episode contains mild spoilers for Drowning Ruth. Christina Schwarz's debut novel weaves together three main threads: historical fiction, melodramatic mystery, and sisterhood. The result is an interesting portrait of women in Depression-era Wisconsin striving for self-determination. Additional talking points include knock-knock tips, Jonathan Franzen's Oprah complaints, and the Tooth Fairy's pyramid scheme. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 27, 2019 |
Ep 358 - Circe, by Madeline Miller
4455
Madeline Miller's Circe is a great chaser for Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey, and it's an excellent exploration of a mythological character who has often been maligned. Miller's Circe is modern but also instantly recognizable and easy to reconcile with her classical depictions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 20, 2019 |
Stop! Homer Time, a miniseries on the Odyssey - Chatting with Emily Wilson
2854
We're almost at the end of our long journey, but before we wrap up with Book 24 and our closing thoughts, we took some time to sit down with Emily Wilson and chat about her wonderful translation of Homer's Odyssey. Among other topics, we talked with her about her process, Telemachus' entertaining whining, and why all these boys are oiling themselves up all the time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 17, 2019 |
Ep 357 - 11/22/63, by Stephen King
4084
Look...if you had one shot (or one opportunity) to undo everything Lee Harvey Oswald ever wanted - in one moment - would you capture it or just let it slip? Stephen King's time-traveling doorstop of a novel 11/22/63 takes us back to the good ol' days when men were men who made plans to assassinate presidents. Discussion points include time travel rules and how much time travel rules, past slang and past meats, and the introduction of Craig's new timehopping bud. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 13, 2019 |
Ep 356 - Middlemarch, by George Eliot
4132
We kick off May by looking back to the middle of March, courtesy of George Eliot's brick of a novel about an insular English community. Discussion topics include: marriage, weird inheritance rules, and the phrase "pleased as Punch." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 06, 2019 |
Ep 355 - John Dies at the End, by David Wong (Bonus Episode)
3518
Just a heads up - this one has explicit language! David Wong's John Dies at the End is a slacker comedy-slash-cosmic horror adventure that may not be for everyone. Talking points include our own hangups as readers of comedy writing, political incorrectness, and the legacy of Cracked magazine's SHUT UP jokes. Oh - and ska. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 03, 2019 |
Ep 354 - Fungus the Bogeyman and Dragons Love Tacos (Children's Book Week 2019)
3355
This year's Children's Book Week - on the eve of the podcast's first child, no less - is about Raymond Briggs' weirdly existential and British Fungus the Bogeyman, and the much lighter and sillier Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 29, 2019 |
Ep 353 - The Lies of Locke Lamora, by Scott Lynch
4162
Scott Lynch's 2006 debut novel is a "sword and sorcery crime novel" about a gang of thieves who get caught up in a power struggle for the fate of their city. The Lies of Locke Lamora bumps up against issues of class and privilege, but it's mostly a story about cool thieves doing cool cons. Talking points include Omar Little, fantasy theatrics, and crossing the double-crossers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 22, 2019 |
Ep 352 - The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells
3406
Ironically, running out of time to read George Eliot's Middlemarch gave us the time to get to H.G. Wells' foundational sci-fi novella The Time Machine, in which he invents the very concept (or at least the modern nomenclature) of a time machine. Wells' protagonist is, surprisingly enough, able to make guesses about sentient life from 800,000 years in the future that just happen to align with his present-day worldview. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 15, 2019 |
Ep 351 - Twilight: Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer
6101
Our journey through Stephenie Meyer's world of werewolves, vampires, and teens has come to a close! We wrap up the story of Bella, Edward, and Jacob with Breaking Dawn. It's a book that could probably be at least two books and definitely suffered by the odd pacing of the series' prior entries. Join us for a discussion of the mind internet, fan fiction and world-building, and just how much we HATE werewolf imprinting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 08, 2019 |
Ep 350 - Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
3687
In Slaughterhouse Five, Kurt Vonnegut uses surprising humor and sci-fi wit to portray one man's experience of the horrific bombing of Dresden. But don't worry - you needn't have read Slaughterhouse One through Four to keep up with our episode on this classic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 01, 2019 |
Stop! Homer Time, a miniseries on the Odyssey - Episodes 11 & 12
4539
Here we go! We're closing in on the end, talking about Books 20-23 of Emily Wilson's Odyssey translation. Odysseus and Penelope pray before the Suitor Bowl. Athena eggs on the suitors. Telemachus yells at his mom. Everyone competes in an archery contest. Then it's time to kill some suitors! Our Heroes' utter lack of mercy doesn't play especially well in Wilson's translation, but that's by design. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 29, 2019 |
Ep 349 - Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force Book 1), by Craig Alanson
4061
This week's book takes us up to space, where the human race fights sentient lizards and hamsters and befriends a fast-talking all-powerful AI. It's sometimes as fun as it sounds! Sometimes not. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 25, 2019 |
Ep 348 - Breakfast at Tiffany's, by Truman Capote
3227
It may not be that classic Audrey Hepburn joint, but Truman Capote's novella Breakfast at Tiffany's quite the fun, poignant portrait of a young socialite named Holiday Golightly. Join us for a morning feast of names, symbolism, and crimes - the three food groups! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 18, 2019 |
Ep 347 - What To Expect When You're Expecting (Part 1), by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
4392
Our SECRET SURPRISE BOOK this week is related to a SECRET SURPRISE LIFE EVENT for one of your co-hosts! Which one? You'll have to listen to find out!! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 11, 2019 |
Ep 346 - Akata Witch, by Nnedi Okorafor (Bonus Episode)
3895
Nnedi Okorafor's magical teen story Akata Witch centers on a young woman named Sunny who discovers that she has magical powers. She then enlists in an after-school magic club with the rest of her coven and sets off to play soccer and save the world. Join us for a discussion of buckeyes, magic schools, and more -- all with the help of a very rowdy patron chat. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 08, 2019 |
Ep 345 - NOS4A2, by Joe Hill
3996
What if kids could live in a world where it was Christmas every day? What if the only way to get there was in a creepy car driven by a deathless vampire man? Joe Hill's NOS4A2 asks these questions and more! It's also the first of his books to engage more directly with the work of his father, a little guy named Stephen King. Other talking points include The Post 2 (spoilers), beard secrets, and Andrew's spine-tingling take on Maxwell's Silver Hammer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Mar 04, 2019 |
Ep 344 - Speaker for the Dead, by Orson Scott Card
4938
This is a book all about empathy, which is occasionally odd given that its author has had Some Issues extending empathy to certain people over the years. Andrew also has some trouble reading a book made of paper. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 25, 2019 |
Ep 343 - How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie
3781
You want to be popular? You want your ideas to be heard? You want to get a great job? Then Dale Carnegie has the tips for you! His best-selling self-help volume How to Win Friends and Influence People has been helping business men for decades, so we decided to sit down and go over a few of the particulars. PS We've also got a hot tip for anyone looking to get more chips at their office cafeteria. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 18, 2019 |
Ep 342 - Native Son, by Richard Wright
3922
Richard Wright's Native Son has been called a "pamphlet" or "protest novel" by writers like James Baldwin, and while there are sections of the book that justify the label, Bigger Thomas and his deeds and motivations defy easy summation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 11, 2019 |
Ep 341 - Dawn, by Octavia Butler
4558
Octavia Butler's Dawn imagines a future where humans are a rung lower on the food chain than usual. And after nearly extinguishing itself in nuclear fire, humanity's only hope is a mysterious alien species that has rescued them for specious reasons. It's a story about oppression and identity, bolstered by Butler's excellent world-building. Note: Tune in after the episode ends for a preview of Mythology, a new podcast from the folks at Parcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Feb 04, 2019 |
Ep 340 - The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss
3761
This week's book, which can be enjoyed by kingkillers and non-kingkillers alike, manages to be filled with meta-references to fantasy fiction without being annoying, which is rare enough to be the stuff of fantasy all by itself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 28, 2019 |
Stop! Homer Time, a miniseries on the Odyssey - Episodes 9 & 10
4178
Odysseus is still old and Telemachus still wants to help kill suitors! In these episodes of our show-within-a-show, we cover books 16-19 of Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey. We've got beggars, sad dogs, Instagram filters, and destructive nannies. What more could you want? Remember, some Patreon supporters get these episodes early every month. Find out more at patreon.com/overduepod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 25, 2019 |
Ep 339 - The Round House, by Louise Erdrich
3860
Louise Erdirch's National Book Award-winning novel The Round House is the story of a thirteen-year-old boy seeking justice for a terrible crime committed against his mother. Unfortunately, arcane laws and good old-fashioned racism stand in his way. It's a powerful book about one young man's growth, about the limits of and hopes for tribal law, and about the perils facing too many Native women. Also there's Star Trek and some grandparents making dirty jokes. Content warning: The Round House is about a case of sexual assault. We don't read explicit passages, but the event does come up in our discussion. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 21, 2019 |
Ep 338 - Twilight: Eclipse, by Stephenie Meyer
4759
If you can't stand how hot these werewolves are, get out of the kitchen! This week we head back to Forks for the third of the four main Twilight books, and while we had kind of made our peace with reading these in our New Moon episode, we question the wisdom of that decision this time around. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 14, 2019 |
Ep 337 - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials #1), by Philip Pullman
3941
The Golden Compass (aka The Subtle Knife) has cute soul-Pokémon, multiple universes, and armored battle bears, so what's not to like? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 07, 2019 |
Ep 336 - The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera (Bonus Episode)
4184
How is sex different than love? Is privacy a necessity for human identity? For political identity? DOES GOD POOP? With the help of Milan Kundera, we attempt to answer these questions and more in this bonus episode on his classic novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Also, be sure to listen post-outro to experience the horrors of a Google Hangout gone wrong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jan 04, 2019 |
Ep 335 - Pale Fire, by Vladimir Nabokov (w/ guest Sophie Brookover)
4157
This week we're joined by friend of the show (and one half of the hit newsletter Two Bossy Dames) Sophie Brookover to talk about Vladimir Nabokov's epic literary troll novel Pale Fire. The author may be dead and the reader is most certainly bad, but that doesn't mean we can't have a great time talking about Vera Nabokov, John Shade stans, and botched assassination attempts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 31, 2018 |
Ep 334 - A Dangerously Sexy Christmas, by Stefanie London
3810
The whole team at Overdue wishes you and yours a very horny Christmas and a sultry New Year with Stefanie London's A Dangerously Sexy Christmas, a book that is equal parts dangerous AND sexy! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 24, 2018 |
Ep 333 - The Little Mermaid, by Hans Christian Andersen (Live from NELA in Rhode Island)
2715
This week's episode is a recording of our live episode from the New England Library Association in Rhode Island in October. We talk about Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, which you may also remember from the Disney movie of the same name. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 17, 2018 |
Ep 332 - Spinning Silver, by Naomi Novik
3403
Naomi Novik's Spinning Silver successfully melds and renews a whole stack of classical fairytales in a story that is anchored by women and deals with real-world anti-Semitism without ever feeling too heavy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 10, 2018 |
Ep 331 - Minecraft: The Island, by Max Brooks
3095
Minecraft, one of the most popular games on the planet, has lots of lessons to teach us! Lessons about persistence, about ingenuity, about punching trees. In this kid-friendly novel, Max Brooks details the "true story" of his own experiences on a Minecraft island, weaving together nuggets of wisdom with the game's particular flavor of discovery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Dec 03, 2018 |
Stop! Homer Time, a miniseries on the Odyssey - Episodes 7 & 8
4417
The boys are back in town! Odysseus and Telemachus make it home to Ithaca in this episode of our show-within-a-show, which covers books 12-15 of Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey. We've got sirens, vaping, swineherds and some god-granted old dude cosplay. Remember, some Patreon supporters get these episodes early every month. Find out more at patreon.com/overduepod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 30, 2018 |
Ep 330 - The Wheel of Time: Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan
4965
The Wheel of Time turns, and we release a new podcast episode. This week, we close out Remember November with a look at the first book in a, um, fourteen book fantasy series with which Andrew is intimately acquainted. The Wheel Of Time has its issues but if you want to talk about extremely detailed magic systems and meticulously crafted fantasy worlds, you’re in the right place! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 26, 2018 |
Ep 329 - Passing, by Nella Larsen
3449
Travel with us back to the Jazz Age and meet Irene and Clare, two women who practice "passing" to get by in New York City. The tragic characters of Nella Larsen's insightful novel Passing show us how suspicions and social status can conspire to bring about a terrible end between friends. Other talking points include the Harlem Renaissance, Arby's vs. Applebee's, and boy oh boy how we wish Larsen had written more books. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 19, 2018 |
Ep 328 - The Indian In The Cupboard, by Lynne Reid Banks
3766
When we talk about judging books by the standards of their time, we’re usually dealing with books that have been written many many decades ago, but Lynne Reid Banks’ The Indian In The Cupboard isn’t far removed from our own childhoods. It’s easy to see why the book resonates with kids, but it’s also frustrating to see Banks acknowledging the gap between pop culture depictions and reality even as she feeds into so many stereotypes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 12, 2018 |
Ep 327 - A Separate Peace, by John Knowles
3849
Remember November commences with us revisiting John Knowles' A Separate Peace. This book about a broken leg boy bored Craig to peaces in high school, but it turns out some books resonate more strongly than you might think. Tune in for a conversation about male friendship, stairs and trees, and Kurt Vonnegut's fourth cousin Norb. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 05, 2018 |
Ep 326 - Terror on the Titanic (Choose Your Own Adventure) by Jim Wallace (Bonus Episode)
4364
What's spookier than doing a CYOA book with a live bonus episode audience? CHANGING THE COURSE OF HUMAN HISTORY! Actually, this adventure wasn't TOO spooky but we did meet our least favorite passenger on the Titanic: Jessica. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Nov 02, 2018 |
Ep 325 - Hell House, by Richard Matheson
3971
This week we revisit a classic Spooktober trope, the haunted house! Richard Matheson's Hell House definitely does not belong in the upper echelon of haunted house fiction - though it's a page-turner that forwards some interesting theories about the causes of haunting, it's also gratuitously sexually violent in some ways that don't feel great! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 29, 2018 |
Ep 324 - Hex, by Thomas Olde Heuvelt (w/ the Unfriendly Black Hotties)
4392
This week's episode, on Thomas Olde Heuvelt's English-language debut novel, is a good reminder: don't accuse a woman of being a witch, kill her, and then taunt her as she despondently traipses through your small town. Bad things will happen. This seems pretty self-evident but apparently it's not. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 22, 2018 |
Ep 323 - Goosebumps: Say Cheese and Die! by R.L. Stine
3464
R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series has been spooking tweens since 1992, selling millions of copies and spawning numerous offshoots and film projects. This week we discuss one of the earliest in the series: Say Cheese and Die! Find out what happens when a group of kids stumble upon an evil camera and just can't. stop. taking. PICTURES! We apologize in advance to any fans of the early 90s Ford Taurus. We kid because we love. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 15, 2018 |
Ep 322 - The Master and Margarita, by Mikhail Bulgakov
3502
What's scarier than an authoritative government that censors and corrupts its artists? The literal devil! This week we're talking about The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, a seminal work in the 20th-century Russian canon and an exploration of just how weird stuff needs to get for the devil to introduce you to Pontius Pilate. Spooky talking points include witch cream, vices, and Joseph Stalin's Haunted House. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 08, 2018 |
Ep 321 - Carrie, by Stephen King
3555
Welcome to Spooktober 2018! Our first book this year is Carrie, Stephen King’s first published novel. Even if you know what happens—and you have probably at least encountered the pigs-blood-prom-night thing through cultural osmosis at this point—the way King builds to and follows that iconic scene keeps this book plenty spooky. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Oct 01, 2018 |
Stop! Homer Time, a miniseries on the Odyssey - Episodes 5 & 6
5187
After reading a whole bunch of books, we’ve finally gotten to the odyssey part of the Odyssey! Giants, dead people, sort-of-goddesses—these books have it all. Remember, some Patreon supporters get these episodes early every month. Find out more at patreon.com/overduepod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 29, 2018 |
Ep 320 - Twilight: New Moon, by Stephenie Meyer
5397
Just like Bella can't resist her vampire beau Edward, we couldn't resist returning to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. So we sharpened our fangs and grew out our wolfbeards for a lengthy discussion of the second book in the series, New Moon. We bemoan the dearth of quality humans in Bella's life. We discuss our #TeamJacob leanings despite some concerns about his "Nice Guy" persistence. And we express our frustration with a book that doesn't WANT to be a metaphor for power dynamics despite being about a teenage girl DEALING WITH SUPERNATURAL MONSTER BOYS. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 24, 2018 |
Ep 319 - Gravity's Rainbow, by Thomas Pynchon
4529
What can be said about Thomas Pynchon's postmodern classic Gravity's Rainbow? Well, it's nearly a thousand pages long so what CAN'T be said, am I right?? Join us for a slightly longer than normal conversation about sexual antics, post-war war machines, and the difficulty of Difficult Books About Difficult Men. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 17, 2018 |
Ep 318 - The Walking Drum, by Louis L'Amour
3517
Louis L'Amour's The Walking Drum, a historical novel set circa the 12th century in Europe and the Middle East, is less concerned with being an adventure story and more concerned with telling the reader about worlds that are different from their own. Mathurin Kerbouchard isn't always the most complex character, but the things he learns, the places he goes, and the people he meets all come together to form a novel that evokes American Westerns but is set far away from the American West. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 10, 2018 |
Ep 317 - Suffer the Children, by Craig DiLouie (Bonus Episode)
3976
How far would YOU go for your kids? asks Craig DiLouie in Suffer the Children. Would you listen to a whole podcast about KIDS WHO EAT BLOOD?! This episode was recorded live over the Internet with some of our Patreon supporters in the audience. Find out more about our Patreon project at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 08, 2018 |
Ep 316 - Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes (w/ Natasha from Unspoiled)
5154
Johnny Tremain is sort of Revolutionary War fan-fiction and sort of World War II propaganda, but it nevertheless remains a part of the canon because it shows us a side of these characters that most elementary school history books exclude. Natasha from the Unspoiled podcast joins us for a journey through this occasionally extremely violent childhood classic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Sep 03, 2018 |
Ep 315 - Behold the Dreamers, by Imbolo Mbue
3491
If you want to relive the 2008 financial crisis, this is the book for you! Behold the Dreamers is the story of the crash through the eyes of immigrants who work for bankers, but Imbolo Mbue resists making any individual character into a hero or villain. That might not always be satisfying, but it makes for a more nuanced story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 27, 2018 |
Ep 314 - Love Story, by Erich Segal (w/ Two Bossy Dames)
4429
NOTE: This episode does contain explicit language. Welcome back to our good friends Margaret and Sophie! They're here to tell you all about Erich Segal's classic tearjerker Love Story. Get ready to hear about tears, jerks, and unfortunate fate of the original cool girl. Other talking points include: saying you're sorry, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and preposterous privilege. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 20, 2018 |
Ep 313 - The Hardy Boys #1: The Tower Treasure, by Franklin W. Dixon
3774
This week we solve a mystery with the Hardy Boys, the indistinguishable sons of a famous detective. They’ll conquer men in wigs, slightly worse detectives, and Hobo Johnny on their way to earning a thousand bucks. Good night! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 13, 2018 |
Ep 312 - The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank
3945
The Diary of a Young Girl, frequently referred to as The Diary of Anne Frank, chronicles the author's time hiding with her family during the German occupation of Amsterdam in the 1940s. It's also a shockingly personal account of a young woman's quest for self-knowledge. Anne shows remarkable candor as she battles to be her best self while enduring the most trying of circumstances. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Aug 06, 2018 |
Ep 311 - The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead
3934
Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad is slave fiction with just a hint of magical realism mixed in to heighten the stakes. Whitehead uses a slightly fluid sense of time and location to better highlight the links between the institution of slavery and race in America throughout its history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 30, 2018 |
Stop! Homer Time, a miniseries on the Odyssey - Episodes 3 & 4
4790
The experiment continues! It's the show-within-a-show where we read Emily Wilson's new translation of The Odyssey a few books at a time and having a more in-depth chat about it than they do about most books. These episodes cover Books 4-7 of The Odyssey. First, Telemachus gets oiled up and talks to some more people about his dad, and the gods finally free Odysseus from his long torment. But he'll make it home now, probably! Probably. Then we chill with Odysseus as he meets the lovely Phaeacians. Remember, some Patreon supporters get these episodes early every month. Find out more at patreon.com/overduepod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 27, 2018 |
Ep 310 - Mystic River, by Dennis Lehane
4259
You may remember Dennis Lehane's 2001 novel Mystic River from the award-winning 2003 film of the same name. What elevates this murder mystery from other crime procedurals is its attention to human detail, its exploration of our collective moral failings and how they intersect. LISTENER BEWARE: We do spoil the heck out of the ending so that we can get into a conversation about youth violence and the American cultural conversation about guns. Unless you're just DYING to read it, we think you should press ahead and enjoy the episode. We even have fun talking about Mystic Pizza and Boston! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 23, 2018 |
Ep 309 - The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, by Rebecca Wells
3904
Just what the heck is a Ya-Ya, anyway?? We tackle this and other topics—including physical abuse, parenthood, midlife crises, and other topics we have little-to-no direct experience with—as we cover Rebecca Wells' best-known novel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 16, 2018 |
Ep 308 - A Darker Shade of Magic, by V.E. Schwab
3596
V.E. Schwab's popular Shades of Magic series started with this novel about Kell, a magic man with a magic jacket, and Lila, a thief who dreams of becoming a pirate. They're brought together against forces conspiring to destroy *multiple* Londons, and their journey is one of power, blood magic, and hidden potential. Talking points include Multiple Clevelands, elemental magics, powerful bloodlines, and how to snag that million dollar podcast deal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 09, 2018 |
Ep 307 - Redwall (Live from Philly), by Brian Jacques
3337
This week's episode on Brian Jacques' Redwall was recorded live at the 6th Annual Philadelphia Podcast Festival. Thanks to everyone who was able to join us and to the festival for having us back! We hope you enjoy our wide-ranging discussion about this animal adventure, which includes a quiz about GWAR, good mice and bad rats, the questionable size of ANYTHING, and how badly we stan for Constance the Badger. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jul 02, 2018 |
Ep 306 - Aristotle Detective, by Margaret Doody (Bonus Episode)
3628
You know Aristotle, the Greek philosopher from the 4th century BCE? What if he was a detective who helped solve mysteries? That's exactly what's going on in Margaret Doody's 1978 novel Aristotle Detective. This episode was recorded live over the Internet with some of our Patreon supporters in the audience. Find out more about our Patreon project at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 28, 2018 |
Ep 305 - The Book of Unknown Americans, by Cristina Henríquez
3885
We didn’t plan to discuss Cristina Henríquez’s The Book of Unknown Americans during a particularly fraught period in the United States’ immigration debate. But if this book or our discussion can help anyone develop more empathy for those who come to the US from elsewhere, it will have done its job (or one of its jobs, anyway). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 25, 2018 |
Ep 304 - Mistborn: The Final Empire, by Brandon Sanderson
3951
What was it about the first Mistborn book that netted Brandon Sanderson a job wrapping up the Wheel of Time series? That's the central question we attempt to answer in our discussion of Brando Sando's acclaimed novel. Join us for a discussion of allomancy, burning orange soda, fantasy heists, self-help magicians and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 18, 2018 |
Ep 303 - Childhood's End, by Arthur C. Clarke
3598
Childhood’s End, Arthur C. Clarke’s first successful novel, starts as a story about a surprisingly chill (if mysterious) alien invasion, but eventually it’s also about the end of the human race. It’s not the aliens’ fault, for once! But they’re definitely, you know, AROUND for it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 11, 2018 |
Ep 302 - I Heard the Owl Call My Name, by Margaret Craven
3892
Margaret Craven's 1967 novel I Heard the Owl Call My Name is about a young Anglican vicar's work with a First Nations parish in British Columbia. The simplistic tale centers on the problems facing a culture at risk of disappearing and the work of those who fight to save it. Talking points include white saviors, romanticized myths, and a run of tree puns that will leaf you breathless. ALSO: Come see us in Philly on June 23rd! Tickets available at bit.ly/overdue2018. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Jun 04, 2018 |
Stop! Homer Time, a miniseries on the Odyssey - Episodes 1 & 2
4691
Welcome to a new experiment! For this new show-within-a-show, Craig and Andrew will be reading Emily Wilson's new translation of The Odyssey a book at a time and having a more in-depth chat about it than they do about most books. Patreon supporters get these episodes monthly, but every two months we'll combine them for general consumption. First you'll hear our introduction to the show (and the translation) and our chat about Book 1. Then our journey across the wine-dark sea continues with our episode on Books 2 & 3. Talking points for that one include rowdy town council meetings, Athena's god moments, and Poseidon slash-fiction. Find out more about how to get these episodes monthly at patreon.com/overduepod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 31, 2018 |
Ep 301 - The Power, by Naomi Alderman
3452
What would you do if you could suddenly zap someone with an electrical charge? What would you do if someone you knew could do it, but you couldn't? What would you do if the world got flipped entirely upside down because said electrical power inverted the world's power dynamics? Well, you're about to find out! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 28, 2018 |
Ep 300 - Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer
5898
We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate our 300th episode than with a *biting* discussion of Stephenie Meyer's blockbuster hit Twilight. Will klutzy cipher Bella Swan and perfect baseballboy Edward Cullen make it? Can you practice abstinence in the world that gave rise to Fifty Shades? And when you become a vampire, does it make you HOT? Find the answers to these questions and more in our tricentennial extravaganza! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 21, 2018 |
Ep 299 - Rock and Roll Mystery (Choose Your Own Adventure) by Jim Wallace
3947
We head back to the Choose Your Own Adventure well this week to solve some rock and roll mysteries - will we get brainwashed by a cult? Will we save rock and roll? You'll have to listen to find out! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 14, 2018 |
Ep 298 - Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, by Betty MacDonald
3927
If your kid's all strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call? PIGGLE-WIGGLE! Betty MacDonald's Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series chronicles a kindly magical lady as she helps all manner of parents with all manner of difficult children. Won't bathe? Make them a garden! Won't share? Make them a pariah! Join us as we celebrate Children's Book Week 2: A Podcast and share our concerns about parenting in the magical 1940s. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 07, 2018 |
Ep 297 - Austerlitz, by W.G. Sebald (Bonus Episode)
3778
For April, we covered W.G. Sebald's Austerlitz, a dense yet moving novel about a man discovering his stolen past. The book's themes get a little heavy at times, but thankfully our rowdy chat is always ready to help lighten the mood. Talking points include death by pun, stolen time, and Craig's "real" name. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
May 03, 2018 |
Ep 296 - Peyton Place, by Grace Metalious (w/ The Librarian Is In)
5002
Who better to help us discuss Grace Metalious' 1956 novel about small-town scandal than a couple of Big Apple librarians like Gwen Glazer and Frank Collerius? Our friends from The Librarian Is In were in Philly, so we invited them over for an uncut discussion of misbehaving teens, skeletons in cellars, and...jimmy caps. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 30, 2018 |
Ep 295 - Passion's Promise, by Danielle Steel
3763
Kezia Saint Martin is an unwilling heiress, a woman who uses multiple pseudonyms so she can do the work she loves. Lucas John is a paroled convict, a strapping Patrick Warburton type who fights for reform in the prison system. Danielle Steel's 1977 novel Passion's Promise shows us how these two unexpected lovers are both alike: the prison of society's expectations is literally the same as actual prison! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 23, 2018 |
Ep 294 - The New Life, by Orhan Pamuk
3842
"I read a book one day and my whole life changed," opens Orhan Pamuk's best-selling novel The New Life. Like much of Pamuk's work, The New Life dives deep into how art helps and hinders our efforts to process the world, drawing specifically on the tensions of the East-West dichotomy. Other talking points include dangerous buses, life-changing books, and in-fiction fiction. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 16, 2018 |
Ep 293 - Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline
3972
Put another quarter in the coin slot folks, because it's time to talk about Ernest Cline's Ready Player One. Topics include bad fan culture, the narrowness of the characters' "exhaustive" knowledge of 80s popular culture, and why the critical response to this book has shifted so much in just a few short years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 09, 2018 |
Ep 292 - "A" is for Alibi, by Sue Grafton
3644
Sue Grafton's Alphabet Mystery series stars Kinsey Millhone, a no-nonsense private eye operating in California. "A" is for Alibi is the first book for feature Kinsey, so we spend much of the episode talking about how it sets up the series and how Kinsey fits into the pantheon of crime fiction protagonists. Also, Andrew comes up with his OWN alphabetic mysteries. This podcast cannot be used for evidence in a court of law. PLUS: We updated our Patreon project! Check it out: patreon.com/overduepod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. |
Apr 02, 2018 |
Ep 291 - Gone With The Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
5456
|