The siblings discuss one of their favorite reads this year. Project Hail Mary is a feel good sci-fi that had their attention from start to finish. The siblings discuss how Andy Weir makes all the scientific aspects of the book seem easy even to readers like them with no scientific background. They also discuss the amazing character development and how the story is a great balance of suspense and successes. As always they end with ratings, 5 stars all around, and recommendations for books like Project Hail Mary.
This book and club meeting gave the siblings quite the fright! We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer was the perfect horror/thriller to tee up the Halloween season. The siblings discussed what differentiates a horror and a thriller as well as talked about how men writing female characters can be a total smash or a swing and a miss. As always the siblings discuss what books you would like if you liked this suspense filled book and closed out with their ratings for We Used to Live Here.
Don't have time to read a 1,200 page long book? Don't worry Beyond the PhIrst Page Podcast has you! We read Mark Twain by Ron Chernow and are discussing the highlights of the book from the authors potential bias towards Twain to all the hilarious quotes the great American Author had. As always listen to the end for our ratings and recommendations if you liked Mark Twain!
This episode is a fan pick and surely a fan favorite! The siblings talk with their friend Kevin about the timelessness of this C.S. Lewis masterpiece. It has the bones of the ideal fantasy and you can look into the allegory of Christianity or just enjoy it for all the fantastical elements it offers. The siblings laugh about funny quotes and Turkish delight as well as discuss the merits of audio books for those who have busy lives but love to read! As always the siblings finish off with book recommendations and their ratings.
The siblings discuss Patriot by Alexei Navalny with Greg Wall who shares a great perspective on the background of the Russian opposition leading up to the attempt on Navalny's life and subsequent incarceration. The discussion really has the reader thinking with topics like Kissinger's Philosophy and Letter from Birmingham Jail. The siblings and Greg also discuss love of country vs state to round out the discussion. As always listen to the end to find out what the book clubbers recommend if you liked Patriot!
Beyond the PhIrst Page discusses another fantasy read this week! Blood Over Bright Haven has a shocking magical system for the siblings to discuss in this weeks book club. The book also has the siblings contemplating what real life injustices this book is drawing comparisons. They get a bit philisophical as well discussing intent versus' actions and what makes a good person. Listen till the end to get recommendations if you liked Blood Over Bright Haven and to hear what they are discussing next time on the podcast!
This episode will have listeners laughing along with the siblings as they discuss the hilarious novel by Jonas Jonasson. This book creatively weaves the past 100 years of history into one mans life in the most light hearted way possible. The siblings discuss the translation and how well done they think it is along with all their favorite parts from The 100-Year-Old-Man. As always at the end they discuss ratings and what listeners should read if they liked this book!
This weeks read got 5 stars from all 3 of the siblings! It was a must read book for the PhIrst Page Podcast and the siblings discuss many of the things they loved about this book. The historical aspect of this book spanned a time period and part of the world that none of them were familiar with and that is what really stood out to them. They also discuss the cultural aspect of this book and how the characters customs were very different than their own. As always the ended with recommendations on what to read next for readers if they like this book.
The siblings take on a gothic novel that delivers on all things grotesque for Club Meeting 41. Geek Love by Katherine Dunn is a masterpiece that the siblings speculate wouldn't have seen the light of day in today's day and age. The characters give the siblings endless things to discuss making this book yet another awesome read for the club. The siblings also reminisce about their favorite fair memories. They wrap up with their ratings and books people should read if they enjoyed Geek Love.
At the recommendation of the second pagers, the siblings discuss We Do not Part by Nobel winner Han Kang for their 40th club meeting. They are joined by Bo Stewart, a childhood friend and avid book recommender! Bo shares some great thoughts on the overall meaning he took away from the book as well as a few disclaimers on how this book is definitely one to pick up if you are looking to challenge yourself. As always the club meeting ends with books to read if you liked this book and the siblings shared what they plan on reading next club meeting to kick off Q3!
In episode 39 of Beyond the PhIrst Page Podcast the siblings get to talk to Sydney Mayes, the 2024 Only Poets, poet of the year. Sydney gives a mini master class in all things poetry. The siblings got the chills after hearing her read her poem the walker system which won the 2024 Academy of American Poets Prize. The discussion is centered around how to analyze poems for amateurs, structure of poems and all of Sydney’s amazing poems. Tune in at the end to get some more literary works like Sydney’s!
In Episode 38 of Beyond the PhIrst Page Podcast the siblings discuss the runner up of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize, Headshot, by Rita Bullwinkel. This unique novel follows young female boxers through a national boxing competition and the siblings talk about the themes of feminism throughout this novel. They also discuss the realistic characters and the way this book was written as a sporting event would be announced. As always the siblings sign off with recommendations for books like Headshot.
This episode the siblings get to discuss the winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize, Trust, by Hernan Diaz. This incredibly original novel is broken up into four parts weaving an extraordinary story with quite a few unexpected twists. The siblings discuss how the artful writing created very believable complex characters. The discussion also covered multiple instances of financial crashes throughout American history as well has some hot takes by Phil... as always! The episode concludes with all the siblings giving this award winner 5 stars and their thoughts on what people should read if they liked this unique novel.
In this lighthearted episode the siblings discuss Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murders by Jesse Q. Sutanto. This San Fransisco “cozy” murder mystery features Vera, a tea shop owner as the main character. The siblings discuss the believability of her character, the plot and who they would recommend this book to! As always they end the podcast with their ratings of the book and recommendations for their listeners for other books like this one!
The week the Phirst Pagers discuss Charlotte Brontë’s classic, Jane Eyre! They get into what a modern day retelling of this would look like, red flags and themes of feminism throughout the book. Phebe tries to get a good yap session going as they discuss if Jane should have made the choices she did throughout the novel. They close with book recommendations and their overall rating of Jane Eyre.
On Episode 34 of the Beyond the Phirst Page Podcast siblings Phebe, Phil, and Isaac discuss The Wager by David Grann. This book outlines a little known shipwreck off the coast of South America and the struggles the captain and crew face during their time at sea. The siblings have a few differing opinions when it comes to what the crew should have done, and if this story was worth reading. Listen along as they discuss the take away, characters and writing of The Wager. As always listen to the end for other great book recommendations!
This week’s discussion is the first fan pick of the podcast, Martyr! The siblings get to talk with Noelle about her favorite book of 2024. Martyr is the perfect book club book and a debrief on the ending is much needed. Nothing is off the table when theorizing how they think this novel ends. The foursome also discusses what it means to be a martyr and if they thought certain characters rose to that status. As always the end the discussion with their ratings and recommendations on what people would like if they enjoyed Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar.
On this episode of Beyond the PhIrst Page Podcast, the sibs get to discuss Fire Weather by John Vaillant with BCG Climate and Sustainability Consultant Neil Slighton. Slighton offers insight around the call to action of this book which was centered around climate change and divesting from big oil. The book clubbers talk about the writing, event or topic and call to action of this book citing merits and short falls in all three categories. Listen to the end to get book recommendations if you liked Fire Weather and to hear what the club is reading next.
If you were confused about how Playground by Richard Powers ended this is the episode for you… because so were the second pagers. Club meeting 31 finds the siblings theorizing about what the books ending meant. They discuss how it was amazing to them that three people can read the same book and take away such different meanings from it. Listen along to see if any of the siblings had the same theory as you about Playground. As always the siblings end with a ranking of the book and suggestions if the listeners are looking for more books like Playground to dive into.
In Club Meeting 30 The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter, the siblings introduce club members to the epic world of the Omehi People. Their world is full of fighting, love and dragons! Listen along as the siblings discuss all their favorite characters, plot points and point of view changes that had them flipping pages for more of this epic fantasy! As always the siblings rank this book, 5’s across the board! And they give their recommendations if you are looking for something like The Rage of Dragons to get your fantasy fix.