Welcome back listeners! After a short break, join Jen and Lane once again, today with the hilarious "Three Men in a Boat" by Jerome K. Jerome. This tale is based on a real adventure taken by Jerome on the Thames, and includes all of the chaotic shenanigans that happen when you take a trip with your closest friends. Especially when just about everything seems to go wrong.
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Welcome back listeners! Join Jen and Lane once again in diving deep into an absolute favorite of classic literature, Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. In this twisted romance (or, should we even call it that?), dark themes provide the foundation for one of the most complex characters in the English canon: Heathcliff. Throughout the novel, Heathcliff’s obsession, need for revenge, and constant plots lead to regular success, but at the devastating expense of those around him.
And yet, perhaps his actions could be heroic romanticism? Could his obsession be more of a youthful passion, and his machinations born out of necessity, created by his surroundings? Are his actions towards those who took his love from him justified? Grab a cup of tea and decide for yourself!
Episode Links:
Referred to in the episode:
• Céline Dion - It's All Coming Back to Me Now (YouTube.com link)
• Emily Brontë: "I Am the Only Being Whose Doom" (Poetry Foundation)
• Withering Heights is a Virgin’s Story, and Other Opinions of Brontë’s Classic (Lit Hub article)
Buy the book:
• Wuthering Heights (Bookshop.org paperback)
• Wuthering Heights (libro.fm audiobook)
Show Links:
• Bards Alley Bookshop Website
Welcome back and happy holidays, listeners! In today’s festive episode, dive into the enchanting world of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker, the beloved holiday tale with a dar, whimsical twist. Jen and Lane explore the story’s origins, its evolution from a fairy tale to the iconic ballet, and the complex characters came to be. Along the way, they discuss Hoffmann’s unique style, blending fantasy with psychological depth, and how The Nutcracker reflects themes of childhood innocence, transformation, and the blurred lines between dreams and reality. Whether you’re a mega fan of the ballet or just now learning of the original story, tune in for a festive discussion, even if there are no sugar plum fairies.
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Buy the book:
• Nutcracker and Mouse King and the Tale of the Nutcracker (Bookshop.org paperback)
• The Nutcracker and The Mouse King (Libro.fm audiobook)
Show Links:
• Bards Alley Bookshop Website
Welcome back listeners! In this episode, Jen and Lane dive deep into Thornton Wilder’s timeless play Our Town. Together, they explore its themes of life, death, and the beauty of everyday moments. Tune in for an engaging conversation about this classic piece of American theater, its lasting impact, and the lessons it offers for modern audiences.
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Welcome back, listeners! In today’s episode, join Jen and Lane in discussing the beloved Little House series. Although written as children’s books, the captivating relationships, struggles, and triumphs of the lives of the pioneers have appealed to audiences universally. The story of the Ingalls has been loved by many, including through the incredibly popular TV series. Whether a returning fan of the series, or a first time reader, enjoy deep insights into the world of Little House.
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Welcome back, listeners! After a short break, join Jen and Lane once again to dive into the life and story of the Master of the Macabre, Edgar Allan Poe. In celebrating the culmination of the spoooky~ season, this week we look at two of Poe's most famous short stories, The Tell Tale Heart and The Raven. Discover that despite the caricature of a dark, brooding man, there is much more to this genius than we may give him credit for.
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Welcome back, listeners! Join Jen and Lane in discussing another great American novella, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. This tragedy involves George and Lennie, the latter of which has a form of disability that leads him to be unable to control his strength, and their struggles with keeping on with their life in the face of the Great Depression and Lennie’s history. Through their sometimes friendly and sometimes ill-intentioned interactions with those around them, learn how powerlessness and loneliness can manifest itself, even when surrounded by others.
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Buy the book:
Of Mice and Men (Bookshop.org paperback)
Of Mice and Men (libro.fm audiobook)
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Welcome back, listeners! Join us today for a tragedy of tragedies, Shakespeare’s Macbeth. In this Scottish-based legend, there’s war, betrayal, and weird witchly things! Learn with us the origin of the story, what real-life legends inspired it, and how prideful ambition can twist and corrupt even a great noble.
Episode Links:
Referred to in the episode:
Norton Shakespeare: Tragedies (Bookshop.org paperback)
The Tragedy of Macbeth (IMDb link)
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Welcome back listeners! In today's episode, join Jen and Lane in exploring the dark, twisted side that hides within all of us... Or at least, within the ultra-notorious Dr. Jekyll. Behind the story, discover the incredible, adventurous, and tragically short life of Robert Louis Stevenson's (R.L.S.).
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Welcome back listeners! And Deinophobes, look away! In today's episode, join Jen and Lane in discussing Michael Crichton's modern classic Jurassic Park. Delve into the differences between the novel and the hyper-popular Spielberg movie adaptation, and ponder about the affects of the story on current films and events.
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Buy the book:
Jurassic Park (Bookshop.org paperback)
Jurassic Park (libro.fm audiobook)
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Welcome back, my dear listeners! Join Jen and Lane today discussing one of the most popular characters ever, the ultra-genius consulting detective Sherlock Holmes. Put on your deerstalker caps, grab your magnifying glass, and discover with us how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock's world, and how his stories have resonated around ours.
Episode Links:
Referred to in the episode:
Young Sherlock Holmes (IMDb link)
Without a Clue (IMDb link)
Sherlock (BBC) (IMDb link)
Elementary (IMDb link)
House M.D. (IMDb link)
Enola Holmes (IMDb link)
Sherlock Holmes: The Complete BBC Collection (Audible.com link)
Buy the books:
The Sign of the Four (Bookshop.org paperback)
The Sign of the Four (libro.fm audiobook)
The Hound of Baskervilles (Bookshop.org paperback)
The Hound of Baskervilles (libro.fm paperback)
The Complete Sherlock Collection (Bookshop.org hardcover)
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Welcome back, listeners! In honor of World Read Aloud Day, Jen and Lane talk about the beautiful world of children's classics, one of the genres that has come to be closest to our hearts. We couldn't decide on a particular story, since there are just too many favorites to nail it down to a particular one! Join us in discussing how children's books have evolved over time, how they affected us when we were kids versus now as adults, and in contemplating what "current classics" have already made their mark in the children's books canon.
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Welcome back listeners! In today's episode, join Jen and Lane in discussing the great American classic The Outsiders. A standard in many states' English curricula and banned in others, the story of Ponyboy, his family, and the rivalry between the Greasers and Socs has remained a timeless staple of the American story. A must-read, The Outsiders has a message for everyone. Take a listen, and as always, stay golden!
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Welcome to the new year, listeners! In today's episode, Jen and Lane discuss Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, a coming-of-age story detailing the transition to womanhood for four sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Dive in deep with us and learn the origins of the story, how they were personally reflective of Alcott's own life, and how this book influenced American literature.
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Welcome back listeners! In today's episode of We Speak Volumes, put on your deerstalkers and whip out your magnifying glasses for this classic murder mystery by Agatha Christie, the G.O.A.T.! The Queen of Crime's genre-defining writing has long been regarded as best-in-class, and in this episode Jen and Lane discuss how she broke literary barriers, smashed reader expectations, and earned her spot as the best-selling author of all time.
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Welcome back listeners! On this episode of We Speak Volumes, join Jen and Lane and take a step back into nature with Annie Dillard's nonfiction classic, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. Allow yourself to reconnect with the outdoors by means of Dillard's flowing, intimate descriptions of the life surrounding her inside the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Ruminate on the place of oneself within one's surroundings, and experience the exhilarating tales of one stalking nature itself. Listen in listeners, because Jen even has a surprise correspondence from Ms. Dillard herself, a WSV scoop!
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Welcome back, listeners! Continuing our theme of spooky tales leading up to Halloween, Jen and Lane dive into the classic short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Discover how the lanky schoolteacher Ichabod learns of the ghastly tale of the Headless Horseman, and finds himself in a terrifying encounter with the pumpkin wielding specter. Also, learn with us about the centuries-lasting impact of Washington Irving and other Knickerbockers throughout American literature and culture. (and seriously, what is a Whim-wham?)
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Mentioned: Three Men in a Boat (bookshop.org)
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Welcome back, listeners! In today's spooky episode, Jen and Lane get into the October spirit by diving into a classic: Bram Stoker's Dracula. Rediscover the horror of the terrifying blood-sucker that has become a staple in our culture, and how the cliches of vampires are not enough to define this incredible story. Join us, and share your thoughts!
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Mentioned: Elizabeth Costova's The Historian (Amazon.com link)
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Welcome back, listeners! In this exciting relaunch of the We Speak Volumes podcast, join hosts Jen and Lane as they discuss Jane Austen's beloved classic Pride and Prejudice. They delve into the depth of Austen's characters and the timeless appeal of the story. They also explore various adaptations and retellings of the novel, both classical and modernized. Join us on this journey and share your thoughts.
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Pride and Prejudice poster: Pride and Prejudice
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Jen and Lane delve into the world of Raymond Chandler's classic novel, The Big Sleep. They explore Chandler's unique writing style and how it impacted the mystery genre. Fascinatingly, the mystery begins with a bookstore! The hosts also discuss other important mystery authors from the local Bards Alley community, including Angie Kim, Harper Kincaid, Ellen Crosby, and David Baldacci.
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