If you're searching for a meaningful Christmas read, this episode is just for you. Join us as we dive into Claire Keegan's Small Things Like These, a novella that proves even the shortest books can make a big difference. Set against the backdrop of a quiet Irish town during the holiday season, this story explores the profound impact one person can have in the face of systemic oppression.

In this heartfelt book club discussion, we examine the themes of courage, compassion, and the moral dilemmas faced by ordinary people. We'll explore how acts of kindness and standing up for what's right can resonate far beyond their immediate circumstances, offering hope in even the darkest of situations.

Whether you're a seasoned reader or just looking for something inspiring this holiday season, tune in to discover why Small Things Like These is a must-read that lingers long after you've turned the final page.

In this episode, we dive into the macabre yet enlightening world of cadavers with Stiff by Mary Roach, a book that reveals the many unexpected ways cadavers have advanced human knowledge and society, whether it be from their use in medical research and crash tests to their roles in forensic investigations. Our guest, Dr. Darin Johnston, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon from Northern California, joins us to discuss the book’s accuracy and share his own experiences learning from cadavers in his medical training. We also tackle some heavier topics, including organ donation, the booming industry of death, and the future of internment practices. Whether you’re fascinated by the science or the philosophy behind life, death, and the human body, this episode offers a mix of both the intriguing, the thought-provoking, and sometimes the comical. Blending science, history, and morbid humor, Roach invites readers to confront the reality of death with a sense of both wonder and respect, making it a fascinating read for anyone curious about the afterlife of the human body.

Join us as we welcome back Dr. Carl Sederholm, a professor of horror and early American studies at BYU, to explore the haunting world of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The House of the Seven Gables. Although the novel unfolds at a slow pace, it offers a rich foundation for discussing how individuals and families grapple with ancestral guilt and inherited curses. Together, we’ll examine themes like wealth, greed, isolation, and untimely death.

We’ll also delve into Hawthorne’s personal struggles with ancestral guilt, particularly his connection to the Salem witch trials through his Puritan ancestors. Could this novel represent Hawthorne’s attempt to confront and heal the past? Tune in for an insightful conversation on how The House of the Seven Gables continues to resonate with readers through its exploration of history, legacy, and haunting family secrets.

My Life in Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead is a captivating blend of memoir and biography that invites readers to explore the enduring impact of George Eliot’s Middlemarch. Mead offers insights into the relevance of Middlemarch in contemporary life, illustrating how Eliot’s exploration of human relationships and personal growth resonates today. We are joined by former British Novel professor, and published author, John Bennion as we discuss the merits of Rebecca Mead's book. Join us for a thought-provoking journey through both Mead’s reflections and Eliot’s timeless narrative!

The Last Cuentista is a winner of the Newberry Medal award, and is the second book by author Donna Barba Higuera. It is a fast paced, middle-grade dystopian sci-fi, and yet it has so much depth and maturity in its themes. We were able to discuss many topics at length including immigration, the importance of storytelling, genetic enhancement, collective working, and what connects us. Azul Uribe is a bi-cultural woman who was partially raised in the U.S.—Texas and Mexico. She is currently working on a book of essays, and lives in Merida Mexico, with her two cats, where she owns no high heels and never wears pants. She has been featured in The Daily Dot, and the Anthologies Los Otros Dreamers (2014) and Somewhere We Are Human (Harper Collins 2019). We talk about Azul’s personal story, as it deals with deportation, and the U.S. immigration policies and other systemic failures that make the path to citizenship unattainable.

Join us in this book club chat as we discuss Susan Cain's work of non-fiction Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. This book feels very validating for those of us who are introverts, and helpful for extroverts who want to better understand their children and partners and the very different ways in which they are energized. We also talk about the highly sensitive person and the correlation between introversion and the HSP.

Join us as we discuss a classic that still has modern relevance. Air Force attorney, Mike Bunnell will provide his unique perspective as he specializes in criminal cases involving sexual assault. He discusses the difficulty found in proving or disproving consent (particularly when alcohol is involved) and compares it to the accusation and subsequent trial that take place in the book. In E.M. Forster's novel A Passage to India, Forster seems to be asking if people of different cultural, religious, and racial backgrounds can co-exist, particularly in situations of high tension and biases. It leads to a good discussion regarding what it means to really see a person, or really see a country.

On the plots surface, Bel Canto details a hostage situation that takes place at an embassy in Peru. But when one delves deeper, it is a meditation on the healing and uniting power of art, specifically that of opera to bring people of completely different cultures and languages together to appreciate music at its finest. This is Ann Patchett's 4th novel and was awarded the Orange prize for fiction and the PEN/Faulkner award. Later the book was made into a film that uses the masterful vocal stylings of soprano Renee Fleming. Stay tuned to the end of this book club chat to hear fellow book-clubber, Mary Ann Claros sing the aria from Rusalka called "Song to the Moon," which is the song that launches the book Bel Canto. Hearing it live is magical!