Discussion Notes: No One Here is Going to Save You
This week’s story: No One Here is Going to Save You by Julian Zabalbeascoa 
Next week’s story: Huevos Estrellados by Vanessa Bernice De La Cruz 
Rated: Clean
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “No One Here is Going to Save You” by Julian Zabalbeascoa,  a story of a soldier during the Spanish civil war who is tasked with executing communists and a priest. Gerald and Andy disappointed with the story, but Anais enjoyed it. At the heart of the debate is how to write about fascism in a world saturated with the subject.

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Discussion Notes: The Theresa Job
This week’s story: The Theresa Job by Colson Whitehead 
Next week’s story: No One Here Is Going To Save You by Julian Zabalbeascoa 
Rated: Clean Themes, Explicit Language (Host drops an ‘f’ bomb 😔 )
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Theresa Job” by Colson Whitehead, a story of a hotel heist in 1950s New York City, centered on a reluctant fence. Gerald and Andy had a love-hate relationship with the story due to its abrupt ending. Anais does her best to help them see the ending through a different lens.

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Discussion Notes: The City Born GreatThis week’s story: The City Born Great by N. K. Jemisin Next week’s story: The Theresa Job by Colson Whitehead Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The City Born Great” by N. K. Jemisin, an urban fantasy about a young New Yorker called upon to midwife the birth of a great city and fend off the eldritch hospitals that would feed on the newborn. All three hosts enjoyed the story — even Andy who might have preferred if the city were Chicago. Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
















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Discussion Notes: The Specialist’s HatThis week’s story: The Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link Next week’s story: The City Born Great by N. K. Jemisin Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Specialist’s Hat” by Kelly Link, a story about twin girls who move into the gothic home of a former poet who dabbled in the dark arts and killed his wife. Despite a lot of debate on this podcast, our hosts ended up giving this spooky, clever story similar ratings.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
















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Discussion Notes: FosterThis week’s story: Foster by Bryan Washington Next week’s story: The Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link Rated: EXPLICITGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Foster” by Bryan Washington, a story of a man estranged from his brother, struggling with his boyfriend, and refusing to name a cat. The story is explicit and so is this episode. The explicit nature of the story was a bit of a turn off for Gerald, but all three hosts enjoyed digging deep into this iceberg of a story. Scratch beneath the story, and there’s a lot to chew on.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
















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Discussion Notes: The InterlopersThis week’s story: The Interlopers by H. H. Munro Next week’s story: Foster by Bryan Washington Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Interlopers” by H. H. Munro (SAKI), a story of a long-running family dispute over wild lands that comes to a head when two men from either side are trapped beneath the same felled tree. In a surprising twist, the story reads like a dark comedy. All three hosts thoroughly enjoyed the story as much as they enjoyed saying “Wolves!”Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
















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Discussion Notes: Hot IceThis week’s story: Hot Ice by Stuart Dybek Next week’s story: The Interlopers by H.H. Munro (SAKI) Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Hot Ice” by Stuart Dybek, a Chicago native who brings the mid-century societal changes to life with the myth of a local saint. Andy identified with the story which struck true to his upbringing in Chicago.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
















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Discussion Notes: The Case For and Against Love Potions
This week’s story: The Case for and Against Love Potions by Imbolo Mbue 
Next week’s story: Hot Ice by Stuart Dybek 
Rated: Clean
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Case for and Against Love Potions” by Imbolo Mbue , a story told by an over confident narrator to you, a person seeking advice on whether or not to use love potions. It is a very funny and subtle satire. The subtlety  unsettled Gerald and Anais who worried it could go over some readers’ heads for ill. This anxiety prompted a discussion on whether or not it’s the author’s job to account for that in their writing.

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Discussion Notes: Objects in SpaceThis week’s story: Objects in Space by Emily Davis Next week’s story: The Case for and Against Love Potions by Imbolo Mbue Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Objects in Space” by Emily Davis, a story of a young New York woman who heads west in search of clarity. Despite a consensus on the story’s merits, the story left our hosts wanting more.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
















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Discussion Notes: The Husband Stitch
This week’s story: The Husband Stitch by Carmen Maria Machado 
Next week’s story: Objects in Space by Emily Davis 
Rated: Explicit
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Husband Stitch” by Carmen Maria Machado, a haunting story of a woman’s life, interspersed with fairytales about womanhood. All three hosts marveled at the brilliance of the story’s composition. As Anais repeated several times in this episode, this story is “next level.” 

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Discussion Notes: A Challenge You Have OvercomeThis week’s story: A Challenge You Have Overcome by Allegra Goodman Next week’s story: The Husband Stitch by Carmen Maria Machado Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “A Challenge You Have Overcome” by Allegra Goodman, a story about an older couple who feel stuck in their careers and whose youngest son is applying to colleges. Our hosts discuss the story’s strong start and how it deviated from their expectations, for better or worse. Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
















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Discussion Notes: HollowThis week’s story: Hollow by Breece D’J Pancake Next week’s story: A Challenge Your Have Overcome by Allegra Goodman Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Hollow” by Breece D’J Pancake, the story of Buddy, a coal miner in West Virginia, his community, and his humble dreams. This story split our hosts. Gerald and Anais gush about the genius of this subtle story. Meanwhile Andy, while agreeing with their analysis, strongly dislikes the story. It gets contentious!Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
















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Discussion Notes: Fatima, the BiloquistThis week’s story: Fatima, the Biloquist by Nafissa Thompson-Spires Next week’s story: Hollow by Breece D’J Pancake Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Fatima, the Biloquist” by Nafissa Thompson-Spires, a story of a young, nerdy black girl in a predominantly white neighborhood who is struggling to reconcile her multitudes. She meets a friend who is self-possessed and has opinions on identity. We loved this story and it provoked a great discussion.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
















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Discussion Notes: Hansa and Gretyl and Piece of ShitThis week’s story: Hansa and Gretyl and Piece of Shit by Rebecca Curtis Next week’s story: Fatima, the Biloquist: A Transformation Story by Nafissa Thompson-Spires Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Hansa and Gretyl and Piece of Shit” by Rebecca Curtis, a modern twist on a classic fairytale, with a hunter, a talking cat, and evil parents and sisters. All three hosts appreciated the story’s clever craft and strong start, but ended the story feeling like something was missing. They dig into what it could be.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
















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Discussion Notes: The Paper TigerThis week’s story: The Paper Tiger by Lindsay Kennedy Next week’s story: Hansa and Gretyl and Piece of Shit by Rebecca Curtis Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Paper Tiger” by Lindsay Kennedy, a whimsical story of biblical proportions of a girl with a strong moral compass and her tiger friend. The story is a wonderful read and charmed all three hosts. We urge you to read it!Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
















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Discussion Notes: The Hunter’s WifeThis week’s story: The Hunter’s Wife by Anthony Doerr Next week’s story: The Paper Tiger by Lindsay Kennedy Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Hunter’s Wife” by Anthony Doerr, a story of a Montana hunter and his estranged, magically gifted wife. All three hosts heaped a ton of praise on this flawless story. Six out six ratings across the board. The discussion may have suffered due to all the fawning, but for aspiring writers, the fawning may prove instructive.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
















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Discussion Notes: Every Tiny Tooth and ClawThis week’s story: Every Tiny Tooth and Claw (or: Letters from the First Month of the New Directorate) by Marissa Lingen Next week’s story: The Hunter’s Wife by Anthony Doerr Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Every Tiny Tooth and Claw (or: Letters from the First Month of the New Directorate)” by Marissa Lingen, a epistolary story of academic wizards trying to survive the rise of a fascist regime. The story prompted a deep discussion of the fantasy genre, the short story format, world building, and magic systems.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers.
















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Discussion Notes: The Daughters of the MoonThis week’s story: The Daughters of the Moon – Italo Calvino – Literary Roadhouse Ep 202 Next week’s story: Every Tiny Tooth and Claw (or: Letters from the First Month of the New Directorate) by Marissa Lingen Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Daughters of the Moon” by Italo Calvino, a story of a consumerist society in a city that lived long ago in a different world. No longer charmed by the aging moon, they throw it in a junkyard, and it’s up to the daughters of the Moon to restore her. It’s a fanciful story told in a light but insightful tone. Listen for a heated argument between Andy and Anais about the nature of sentient, car-driving mammoths!Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers. 
















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Discussion Notes: The Land Where Lemon Trees Bloom
This week’s story: The Land Where Lemon Trees Bloom by Evan S. Connell 
Next week’s story: The Daughters of the Moon by Italo Calvino 
Rated: Clean
Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Land Where Lemon Trees Bloom” by Evan S. Connell, a story of a man who tells delightful, tall tales. The story charmed our hosts, but was the premise enough to win them over? 

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LRH discusses "Callme and Mink" by Brenda Cooper, a story about attachments, centered on a robot whose raises and gives away dogs.