Close Reads Podcast

• A Tale of Two Cities: Book 1, Chapters 1-6

  Over the years, many of you have asked us to discuss a Dickens novel and it’s finally time! Over the next several episodes we are going to dig into A Tale of Two Cities. But fair warning: as we get into the book we do spend some time explaining why we’re not necessarily Dickens enthusiasts, before getting into what really works well. (Don’t worry, we won’t dwell further on the things we don’t love, but it would be strange to not address it given our collective reputation on this count). Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

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• The Bridge of San Luis Rey Q&A

  You had questions about The Bridge of San Luis Rey; we did our best to answer them. Thanks for tuning in to this series! Up next: A Tale of Two Cities. Please note: no video for this episode. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

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• The Bridge of San Luis Rey: To the End

  It’s time to dig into the end of Thornton Wilder’s lovely novel and in this episode we’re discussing the impact (and epilogue-like nature) of the final chapter, the spiritual contemplations inherent in the narrative, the way Wilder manages to say something powerful about the nature of love, and much more. Happy listening!Video editionA quick note on video: some listeners have requested that we post videos of the show. We’re open to this and will try it, since it does seem to be the future of podcasting, whatever that means. But many video podcasts can get quite performative; video can change the tone of a show. After all, it’s weird to sit and look into the camera; it’s weird to be conscious of the fact that people are watching you have a conversation as opposed to just listening to it. Some people get anxious about lighting and hair and makeup and all that. We aren’t going to worry about any of that. We are just going to post our Zoom calls as they are. If they look bad or poorly lit, so be it. If they seem awkward, oh well. If it’s for you, great. If you just want to roll with audio, that’s great too. However you tune in, thanks for doing so! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

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• The Bridge of San Luis Rey: Parts 1-3

  Welcome to the first episode of 2025 here on Close Reads! Our first book of the year is a short but powerful contemplation of , well, the meaning of life and death. Great way to kick off a new year . . . Topics of conversation include whether this is an unbearably sad book, the complex (mirrored) relationships at the core of the story, the nesting doll structure of the narrative, the echoes of Jesus’ teaching that show up, and much more. Happy listening!Close Reads Podcast HQ is a community-supported publication. To support our work and gain access to bonus content please consider subscribing. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

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  51:56
• The Great Passion: Q&A Episode

  We’ve come to the end of our series on James Runcie’s novel, The Great Passion, which (as usual) means it’s time for a Q&A episode and this time we have a very special guest: our friend Greg Wilbur, who happens to a conductor and composer who has also authored a biography of Bach himself. Greg joined us to chat about his experience with The Great Passion and to answer some of your questions. Happy listening (and happy new year)! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

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