Category: Western Canonball
A bunch of Brooklyn newbies dive into the deep end of mankind’s pool of thought whether they sink or skim.
WESTERN CANONBALL is a podcast featuring my neighbors and I as we read through the western canon and classics and then hash out everything we didn’t understand over dinner at my house.
It’s a way for those of us with no experience with classic literature to become acquainted with it quickly and in community so that it’s less scary and weird.
If you’d like to join us, click here to unlock the whole booklist and join the book club.
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Of the Making of Books there Is No End?
I grew up in a fairly conservative religious community that abhorred study and praised ignorance, in a way. From this assumption folks would often quote in my general direction of the making of books there is no end. They believed along what Asimov said of many Americans: that my ignorance is as good as anyone…
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Running a Book Club Well
Today for BOTH Western Canonball AND Myths, Legends, Folklore and Tall Tales, I’m posting a recording of a panel I was on at Heliosphere 2019 on Running a Book Club Well (the program called it “Tips for your Kickass Book Club”). The panel featured Carol Gyzander,Philip De Parto, Lauren Paradise,Eric Parmer. It ventured into nearly…
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Frankenstein: The Intersection of Literature and Science — with Kathleen Ann Goonan at the World Fantasy Convention
On Thursday I gave a talk on Frankenstein: The Intersection of Literature and Science here at the World Fantasy Convention with the fabulous and brilliant Kathy Goonan, (unfortunately Ted Chaing’s train delayed him). Kathy offered a deep drink from her vast experience and knowledge and I think you’ll find it instructive as we continue reading…
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Gilgamesh and Skinny Dipping
Episode one of our book club podcast WESTERN CANONBALL features The Epic of Gilgamesh and some scandalous skinny dipping by Enkidu. Gilgamesh features an antihero who offends gods, slays giants, and offensively steals the wives of everyone in the kingdom. This podcast is basically a group of us meeting at my house for dinner about…