In this episode, the team contemplates the nature of beauty, vanity, and the curse of eternal youth as presented by Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. A surprisingly deep novel portrayed by a host of shallow characters, this novel shocked many with its departure from morality and its unkind portrayal of England's performative elites. Perhaps, like Dorian's portrait, this book offers a glimpse into the broken soul of Oscar Wilde and reveals the struggles that defined the man.

Listeners Beware!

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram:https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 5.10 - Evan's Choice: The Picture of Dorian Gray

In this month's episode, the team looks at two animalistic tales: E. B. White's Charlotte's Web and George Orwell's Animal Farm. While seemingly similar on the the surface these two books produced very different themes and and views of their animal-centric worlds. Join us as we explore how animals can help to subvert the expectations of the reader to deliver powerful statements about life, loss, and REVOLUTION!

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 5.9 - Talking Animals: Charlotte’s Web & Animal Farm.

In this episode the team interviews Dr. Tony Perrello, Director of the Interdisciplinary Studies Program at CSU (California State University Stanislaus), regarding his love of literature; primarily, Shakespeare's Hamlet. Join us as we explore the many themes of this Shakespearean classic, the historical context, and its greater impact on poetry and literature today.

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 5.8 - Hamlet with Dr. Tony Perrello

In this episode, the team analyzes one of the most prolific novels of 20th-century American living, John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. This exceptional work of Americana became a staple for its exploration of the Great Depression, the struggle for survival, and the importance of family. Join us as we talk about The Grapes of Wrath's influences, impact, and if this truly is one of the greatest stories ever told.

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 5.7 - Literature and History: The Grapes of Wrath

In this episode, the team explores the magical world of Harry Potter. Join us as we discuss our experiences with this literary universe, its cultural impact, and its seemingly neverending reach across this enchanted world.

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 5.6 - The Magical World of Harry Potter

In this episode the team discusses morality in literature. So often, our literary heroes are forced to make decisions that threaten to betray their heroic status, ultimately humanizing them. In this episode we will discuss Murder on the Orient Express, The Light Between Oceans, the Road, and Dune. Join us as we try to navigate the churning waters of ambiguity together!

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 5.5 - Moral Ambiguity in Literature

In this episode, the team takes on a story (and book) that is as old as time, John Milton's Paradise Lost. On the heels of our villains episode, we try to wade through this larger than life cast of characters, creation, and the fall of mankind.

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 5.4 - Spotlight on Classics: Paradise Lost

In this episode, we explore the age old question: What makes a villain? Join us as we explore the dark side of the equation, discuss why villains are important, and talk about our favorites in the pantheon of the sly, dastardly, and the downright evil.

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 5.3 - The Fall from Grace: How Villains Are Made

In this episode, the team breaks down the best, worst, and the most surprising reads of 2024. Listen along to find out what books to avoid reading for yourself as well as some books that are just too good to pass up!

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 5.2 - 2024 Reading Review

Listeners, welcome to Season 5 of the Lamppost in the Woods. In this episode, the team takes a look at all the books we've ever discussed on the podcast as we draft our favorite selections from the Lamppost Library.

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/⁠⁠

or

Head to ⁠⁠https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/⁠⁠

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 5.1 - The Lamppost Library

Merry Christmas to all of our wonderful listeners! We hope that during this holiday season, you would take this podcast with you wherever you may be going.

In this episode, the team discusses the Christmas classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. So whether your heart is two-sizes too small or full of Christmas cheer, come along with us as we explore the whimsical world of Whoville.

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/⁠

or

Head to ⁠https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/⁠

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 4.12 - How the Grinch Stole Christmas

In this episode, the team discusses the New York Times best-seller The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. We grabbed this book off of airport shelves to talk about just why this novel is so popular with readers around the world. Dealing with themes of life, death, and the something in between, this book explores a multiverse of lives and possibilities.

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 4.11 - Airport Read: The Midnight Library

In this episode, the team gets stuck with another one of Evan's stranger reads, Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? on Halloween of all nights. A foundation piece of science fiction, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? envisioned a future of flying cars, rampant capitalism, and androids that look just like you and me. Join us as we discuss themes of empathy, the value of life, and what it truly means to be human.

Listeners Beware!

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 4.10 - Evan's Choice: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

This week we are joined by a very special guest and fried of the show Pastor Steven McDaniel to discuss the next book of the Chronicles of Narnia, The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis. Pastor McDaniel takes us all back to school as we talk about Lewis's evolution as a writer, the origins of Narnia, and where the Lamppost in the woods came from in the first place.

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 4.9 - The Magician's Nephew

This week the team looks at a staple of many our high school english courses, The Odyssey. Join us as we dissect this instant and ancient classic through all the good, and all the bad. Does this epic still rank as one of our favorite books or has it fallen to the bottom of our piles?

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 4.8 - Back to School: The Odyssey

In this episode the team talks modern fairytales with The Princess Bride and The Tale of Despereaux. How do these modern stories measure up the classics, do they have a placein our reading, and what might the next generation of fairytales look like to an ever-changing world?

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 4.7 - Modern Fairy Tales: The Princess Bride & The Tale of Despereaux

In this episode, the team looks at a variety of tales from Arthurian legend, if King Arthur existed, and what these stories might be based on. In this episode we discuss Le Morte D’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (translated by Jesse Weston), The Story of Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle, and The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck.

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 4.6 - King Arthur: Legend, Literature & Legacy

Dinosaurs and puritanical ministers? Jungle theme parks and pre-revolutionary America? What kind of juxtaposition is this? Join us as we compare two incomparable novels and explore the consequences of fanatical devotion.

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 4.5 - Jurassic Park & The Scarlet Letter

In this episode, the team discusses what many consider the birth of science fiction (and the birth of a monster), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the original story of an overreaching scientist and his tragic creation. Through many cultural changes, retellings, and iterations, the source material is still the most unsettling version of the story.

Join us as we explore the themes of ethics, morality, and shocking realization that this may in fact be the first Young Adult Fiction novel ever written.

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Episode 4.4 - Spotlight on Classics: Frankenstein

In this episode, the team talks about literature revolving around themes of pain, suffering and ultimately salvation. In this episode we discuss the Book of Job, the various retellings of Snow White, as well as a number of other works that inspired our attraction to this theme.

To get connected with us, check us out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamppostinthewoods/

or

Head to https://www.thelamppostinthewoods.com/

Thanks for listening to the Lamppost in the Woods - Season 4 Episode 3.