NO READING REQUIRED! As soon as Kimberly dove back in to No Country for Old Men, she knew she needed to parse what makes McCarthy SO GOOD. This exploration hits on all the ways that reading McCarthy is a master class in all elements of fiction:  textured narrative voices, description of violence, sympathy for complex characters, dark humor, and others--not to mention gorgeous prose.

NO READING REQUIRED! Whether this doorstop is an old favorite--or something you NEVER plan to read--treat yourself to Kimberly's take on why this classic of all classics is worth your next 40 minutes!

NO READING REQUIRED! Fitzgerald's genius might very well be wasted on the youth. Even if you haven't re-read this classic since you were 16, delving into for an hour is a revelation. Kimberly breaks down the innovative narrative stance, the plot-heavy structure and some master-class motif building--all while reveling in (and also subtly criticizing) this modernist MASTERPIECE.

NO READING REQUIRED! Tune in to hear Kimberly unpack the many ways that Ernaux celebrates the age gap relationship. The French master offers up philosophical explanations for why older people get with younger ones, incisive analysis of social norms and all the ways in which these liaisons can be empowering--all, of course, while treating us to her stark, arresting, unique prose. Treat yourself to this dip into one woman's world and all the ways we might rethink age difference.

Tune in for Kimberly's breakdown of how PLAYWORLD really succeeds--and the ways she sees it falling short. With its marketing materials really pushing its 36-year-old-woman/14-year-old-boy sexualized relationship, the novel provides a fascinating look at sex writing and how the Mrs.-Robinson trope manifests itself in 2025. Join Kimberly for this second of four lectures--the only novel of the four written by a man--which maybe shouldn't matter?? But also really might.

With good sex writing, and TWO age-gap relationships, INTERMEZZO offers Kimberly all sorts of ways to think about female sexual desire. Listen in to hear what Kimberly LOVES about this latest Rooney, and where she thinks the novel fell SHORT. The first of a series of four lectures that will explore Adam Ross's PLAYWORLD, Annie Ernaux's THE YOUNG MAN and Kate Chopin's THE AWAKENING, Kimberly's deep dives will elucidate not only the novel at hand, but larger, timely questions about (older) women and sex.

White published the four-part volume in 1938 and 1958--all in the shadow of WWII. If he only knew how well the chaos of that historical moment would mirror 2025! This 700-page novel is haunting, intelligent, absorbing and charming. NO NEED TO READ the book. Just treat yourself to Kimberly's wander through it now!

In this special lecture honoring a story from one of the BEST BOOKS OF THE CENTURY (according to the New York Times), Kimberly proves that it's FASCINATING to parse a five-and-a-half page story for almost an hour. In fact, there was a lot MORE she wanted to discuss. This deep dive, though, will give you an even better sense of just WHY Berlin's work is so so good.

Join Kimberly as she discusses historical fiction as a genre--before digging in to how the structure, the pacing, the figurative language and the prose make this novel work so well. (Plus, as usual, a few quibbles.)

NO READING REQUIRED! Kimberly's deep dive works well before or after reading this gem. The novel's unique reading experience derives in part from the incredible photographs throughout--combined, of course, with insanely great prose. Make sure you're getting as much as possible out of this unusual, beautiful, haunting novel. Listen in now!

Kimberly LOVES this classic of all classics--largely held as the first modern novel. Cervantes's 1605 masterpiece is not only colorful, hilarious, smart and unique but it includes all the elements that would go on to shape the modern novel. Let Kimberly tell you all about these crucial elements while giving you a good taste of the Spaniard's amazing prose. She also argues why this hour-long lecture might be all the Quijote you need! Listen in now!

Good books provide inspiration, compassion, consolation, edification...and ESCAPE. If you're a little weary of the world right now, dig into the very smart pages of THE ANTHROPOLOGISTS. This slim novel's unique, destabilizing premise could feel gimmicky in lesser hands, but Savas manages to intrigue, all while throwing into relief the basic desires of every reader. Kimberly found SO MUCH depth to explore. Join us now! NO PRE-READING NECESSARY!

When The NY Times named Alderton's GOOD MATERIAL one of the best 10 books of 2024, Kimberly knew it was time to dig in. Listen as she deepens your understanding of the male narrative voice, the excellent figurative language, the supposed "double ending" and Alderton's CRUCIAL SUBVERSION of the marriage plot. Tune in to Kimberly's argument for why this (anti)-rom-com (?!) BELONGS in the company of literary heavyweights like Miranda July's ALL FOURS, Percival Everett's JAMES and Álvaro Enrigue's YOU DREAMED OF EMPIRES. Finally, DO NOT MISS Kimberly's hottest of hot takes!

As soon as she opened it, Kimberly knew she needed a deep dive into YOU DREAMED OF EMPIRES. Listen in for a deeper understanding of the title, the unique narrative stance, why the book feels so dreamy, the humor and whether or not we can read this as a FEMINIST novel.

NO READING REQUIRED! Find out why we are SO DRAWN to this unlikely, enduring classic from 1957. Also: Kimberly grapples with the sequel.

Tune in to hear how detective novels are inherently conservative but why Kimberly LOVES CHRISTIE ANYWAY. You'll learn why the "queen of crime" is so exceptional and why it should be no surprise that she's the best-selling writer OF ALL TIME (except Shakespeare and the Bible...). Also--see which volume is the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday list.

Isabel Allende's THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS didn't just build upon the magic realism established by García Márquez's ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE. Allende's 1982 novel (published in Spain, not her native Chile for political reasons) was immensely popular with Americans when it was published in English in 1985. Indulge in a reminder of these absolute masterpieces while learning more about how they relate to one another, more about magic realism in general, and how the historical-political situations in Colombia and Chile influenced both works. Kimberly had SO much fun with this. Join in now.

Braiding Sweetgrass is one of those books we should be going back to again and again. If you don't quite have the time to do that, Kimberly will give you a hand. Want to feel like you could maybe help make the world a slightly better place in some small way?? Want to feel better about the environment?? Want to feel inspired and informed--with sometimes RADICAL new ways to conceptualize the world? Listen in!

Kimberly will share whether you should—or should not—dig into Dubliners. She’ll treat you to a snippet of the prose to give you a sense of the work, but for a deeper analysis, check out the lecture.

Kimberly focuses on creepy, haunting “An Encounter” before her deep dive into the keystone work, the subtle, sad, masterful “The Dead.” Find out how Joyce’s prose changed the face of literature, and how his portrayal of the Irish is actually a portrayal of EVERYONE.