This week Katie, Sky and Lauren begin reading a new novel, The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham. Published in 1944, it tells the story of a young man who returns from World War I and turns away from society life on a spiritual quest. Discussion topics include: what it means to be a "snob," a Brit's delighted amusement about ice cream sodas, and …

We discuss episodes 1-3 of The Handmaid's Tale miniseries, now airing on Hulu in the USA. Discussion topics: Sucky Janine not sucky enough, Joseph Fiennes looks like a Rolex model, Scrabble rules not followed... but it's still very good!Door Schuyler Swartout

Katie, Sky and Lauren discuss the 3rd-act twist of Candide - it really IS the best of all worlds! Ok, not really. Next Week: Episodes 1-3 of The Handmaid's Tale miniseries Next Book: The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset MaughamDoor Schuyler Swartout

Candide Chapters 11-20. Katie, Sky and Lauren discuss a variety of boats, question Voltaire's self-censorship, and make way, way, way too many references to a certain 2000 Dreamworks animated feature. NOTE: This episode contains some foul language and adult situations. You know, if you're into that sort of thing.…

Hot takes from 1759! Katie, Sky and Lauren jump into chapters 1-10 of Voltaire's satire Candide. Discussion topics: What if Candide's true identity is... Optimism? Footnotes vs. Endnotes. Who(m) does the old woman serve?Door Schuyler Swartout

Katie, Sky and Lauren wrap up discussion of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, Section XIV "Salvaging," Section XV, "Night," and "Historical Notes." Discussion Topics: Why don't we learn Offred's real name? Who will Lars the Swede cast as Sucky Janine? And how long will cassette tapes keep in a footlocker sealed with packing tape?…

Katie's microphone was sent to the Colonies so it will be one more week until we can all finish Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. But in this short announcement, our next book is disclosed in all of its glory!!!Door Schuyler Swartout

Join us as we journey into Jezebel's! Discussion topics: cheap lipstick of the 1990s, what one might do with a match, and how Lars the Swede hints at an unreliable narrator. Katie, Sky and Lauren discuss The Handmaid's Tale section XII, "Jezebel's" and section XIII, "Night."Door Schuyler Swartout

Section IX "Night," Section X "Soul Scrolls," and Section XI, "Night." Large machines print an endless cycle of identical prayers reading them aloud to no one.... In this weeks episode of Interlibrary Loan, Katie kind of sounds like a robot too! But she, Sky and Lauren press on and ask: What has Luke lost? Could a Commander love his wife? And why d…

Section VII, "Night," and section VIII, "Birth Day." This week Katie, Sky and Lauren spend some quality time with sucky Janine, muse on the possible significance of the word "Larynx," and nerd out about how cool Moira is in that one part. You know the part I'm talking about.Door Schuyler Swartout

Katie, Lauren and Sky dig deeper into the disturbing world of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. We talk about The Ceremony, Serena Joy, and butter skin treatments. Bonus: a very special message about toilet wine.Door Schuyler Swartout

We start our funniest book yet! Ok just kidding, it's not very funny. In fact it's quite grim. But there's a lot of nice bright red! Tulips, dresses, the blood from the mouth of a hanged man.... like we said, grim. But join us, won't you? Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale becons, like stones in the desert.…

Jon, Katie and Sky are joined by special guest Lauren to discuss the 2012 film adaptation of Cloud Atlas. Come for the discussion of Hugh Grant's bad makeup, stay for the five straight minutes of Wishbone fancast chatter. Cloud Atlas, we salute you!Door Schuyler Swartout

This week, we have come full circle. We’ve finished David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas. Will Adam Ewing survive what's ailing him? Do ants get headaches? And what can you do when you're just one drop in the ocean? Join us and find out.Door Jonathan Cox, Katie Sabo, and Sky Swartout

We've almost completed the circle! Join Jon, Katie and Sky as we pop in on Robert Frobisher, composer extraordinaire, and his struggles with the Ayers and Van de Velde families. Plus, the Return of the Musical Policeman! The penultimate chapter of David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, this time on Interlibrary Loan.…

After a couple weeks hiatus, Jon, Katie and Sky are back to discuss the thrilling conclusion to Half Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery. Is Luisa doomed to a watery grave? Why do old scientists keep falling in love with her? And what's the deal with Joe Napier? Find out on this week's episode of Interlibrary Loan!…

Katie and Sky have a rollicking good time discussing the thrilling conclusion of a certain Ghastly Ordeal of one Timothy Cavendish. Have a great time with all your favorites: Timbo, Lars, Johns Hotchkiss, Georgette, and Mr. Meeks. Is this worth seeing before you're executed at the Lighthouse? Listen in and find out!…

This week Jon, Katie and Sky begin to work back through the previous narratives of Cloud Atlas, beginning with the conclusion of Sonmi-451’s story. Who really is Hae-Joo Im, and what really happens to twelve-starred fabricants? Join us and find out.Door Jonathan Cox, Katie Sabo, and Sky Swartout

Join Jon, Katie, and Sky this week as we finally make it to the halfway point in Cloud Atlas and get to see a story through all the way to the end!Door Jonathan Cox, Katie Sabo, and Sky Swartout

Jon, Katie, and Sky explore a dark future in the fifth section of Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. Do genetically engineered clones hear Ayers' dream music? What does soap taste like? Join us as we read of a people who worship Ronald McDonald.Door Jon Cox, Katie Sabo, and Sky Swartout

Join Jon, Katie, and Sky as we shift tones and tackle section four of Cloud Atlas. We consider an insufferable narrator of questionable reliability in Timothy Cavendish, a noted plot twist, and the ever interlacing themes that weave through seemingly disparate stories.Door Jon Cox, Katie Sabo, and Sky Swartout

Join Jon, Katie, and Sky this week as we sift through a murderous conspiracy revolving around a nuclear power plant and work our way through section three of Cloud Atlas. Narrative themes and structures begin to emerge and our concept of the book is quickly changing.Door Jonathan Cox, Katie Sabo, and Sky Swartout

Join Jon, Katie, and Sky as we listen to dream music and discuss ancient queens and kings in the second section of Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.Door Jonathan Cox, Katie Sabo, and Sky Swartout

Join Jon, Katie, and Sky in our first episode of Interlibrary Loan, as we set out with Adam Ewing in the first section of Cloud Atlas.Door Jonathan Cox, Katie Sabo, and Sky Swartout

I am glad that you're here with us, listeners, here at the end of all things. Join Katie and Jonathan as we discuss what it means to have read the Silmarillion, the Hobbit, and the Lord of the Rings—what we've discovered that we never noticed before, how our understanding of the books has changed, and how our lives have changed, as well. And of cou…