David, Eric, and Nick read Jon Fosse’s Melancholy I-II, a mid-90s Norwegian novel in two parts that explores the connections between art, death, and the divine. Also discussed in this episode: what exactly is “the divine.” For fans of cyclic long sentences and also cyclic short sentences, Melancholy I-II is perhaps a slightly lesser known Fosse work to English-speaking audiences, but it makes a very convincing argument for reading as much Fosse as possible. We know we certainly will.

David, Eric, and Nick read Jon Fosse’s Melancholy I-II, a mid-90s Norwegian novel in two parts that explores the connections between art, death, and the divine. Also discussed in this episode: what exactly is “the divine.” For fans of cyclic long sentences and also cyclic short sentences, Melancholy I-II is perhaps a slightly lesser known Fosse work to English-speaking audiences, but it makes a very convincing argument for reading as much Fosse as possible. We know we certainly will.

98 - Jon Fosse's Melancholy I-II

Ross Benjamin

Franza Kafka

David is joined by Ross Benjamin, translator of Franz Kafka’s Diaries in its most authentic form to date. Listen in as they discuss Benjamin’s start in the field of translation, his love for Kafka’s craftsmanship and humor, and why a new edition of Kafka’s diaries needed to be released. Benjamin’s translation is available now via  Schocken Books and is a must for any Kafka fan (read: the hosts of this podcast).

David is joined by Ross Benjamin, translator of Franz Kafka’s Diaries in its most authentic form to date. Listen in as they discuss Benjamin’s start in the field of translation, his love for Kafka’s craftsmanship and humor, and why a new edition of Kafka’s diaries needed to be released. Benjamin’s translation is available now via <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/612561/the-diaries-of-franz-kafka-by-franz-kafka/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Schocken Books</a> and is a must for any Kafka fan (read: the hosts of this podcast).

97 - Franza Kafka's Diaries (Guest: Ross Benjamin)

We have (finally) found the lost time! It was inside us all along! Listen in as Nathan, David, and Nick complete their tour through Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, concluding with a discussion on the final volume, Time Regained. Topics include: memory, the purpose of art, and . . . BDSM? In the event that you anticipate going through withdrawals after completing your own In Search of Lost Time journey, might we recommend some Proust gear? Head on over to the B.O.S.S. store to check out some new designs that will help you tell the world that you’ve read Proust and you’re ready to launch into an extremely in-depth discussion about him at any moment.

We have (finally) found the lost time! It was inside us all along! Listen in as Nathan, David, and Nick complete their tour through Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, concluding with a discussion on the final volume, Time Regained. Topics include: memory, the purpose of art, and . . . BDSM? In the event that you anticipate going through withdrawals after completing your own In Search of Lost Time journey, might we recommend some Proust gear? Head on over to the <a href="https://www.twoifby.land/boss-store" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">B.O.S.S. store</a> to check out some new designs that will help you tell the world that you’ve read Proust and you’re ready to launch into an extremely in-depth discussion about him at any moment.

96 - Marcel Proust's Time Regained (In Search of Lost Time #6)

Henri Lefebvre

Tom Comitta

In this episode Nick is joined by Tom Comitta, aficionado of citational fiction and author of  The Nature Book, newly released and available now from Coffee House Press. Tom selected Henri Lefebvre’s The Missing Pieces as the work of focus for today’s discussion, so listen in as we talk through the history of authors remixing words, Lefebvre’s ability to invoke emotion with lists, and the apparent popularity of the destruction of art in antiquity. Post-script: The remix artist referenced at 43:20 is  People Like Us.

In this episode Nick is joined by <a href="https://www.tomcomitta.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tom Comitta</a>, aficionado of citational fiction and author of <a href="https://coffeehousepress.org/products/the-nature-book" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Nature Book</a>, newly released and available now from Coffee House Press. Tom selected <a href="https://mitpress.mit.edu/9781584351597/the-missing-pieces/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Henri Lefebvre’s The Missing Pieces</a> as the work of focus for today’s discussion, so listen in as we talk through the history of authors remixing words, Lefebvre’s ability to invoke emotion with lists, and the apparent popularity of the destruction of art in antiquity. Post-script: The remix artist referenced at 43:20 is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Like_Us_(musician)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> People Like Us</a>.

95 - Henri Lefebvre's The Missing Pieces (Guest: Tom Comitta)

Anton Chekhov

Bob Blaisdell

In this episode Nick is joined by Bob Blaisdell, Professor of English at the City University of New York’s Kingsborough College and author of a new work on Anton Chekhov titled Chekhov Becomes Chekhov: The Emergence of a Literary Genius. Listen in as they talk in depth about the story Difficult People, as well as Blaisdell’s approach to digging into Chekhov’s most prolific years of 1886 and 1887.  Chekhov Becomes Chekhov: The Emergence of a Literary Genius is available now from Pegasus Books, and we highly recommend grabbing a copy. It’s a wonderful read.

In this episode Nick is joined by Bob Blaisdell, Professor of English at the City University of New York’s Kingsborough College and author of a new work on Anton Chekhov titled Chekhov Becomes Chekhov: The Emergence of a Literary Genius. Listen in as they talk in depth about the story Difficult People, as well as Blaisdell’s approach to digging into Chekhov’s most prolific years of 1886 and 1887. <a href="http://pegasusbooks.com/books/chekhov-becomes-chekhov-9781639362646-hardcover" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Chekhov Becomes Chekhov: The Emergence of a Literary Genius is available now from Pegasus Books</a>, and we highly recommend grabbing a copy. It’s a wonderful read.

94 - Anton Chekhov's Difficult People (Guest: Bob Blaisdell)

David, Nathan, and Nick continue on their expedition for misplaced minutes, this time tackling Marcel Proust’s fifth installment, The Captive &amp; The Fugitive. Topics this time around include: the endless cycle of the narrator’s obsession and apathy toward Albertine; the errors and inconsistencies of this posthumously published work (and whether that matters at all); the ability of different readers to find different points of connection in a lengthy work so packed with details that it begins to approximate real life. Say what you will about My Darling Marcel™, but our narrator hero can still deliver quite the impressive take on art, time, and space.  Only one more volume to go — stay tuned for the coming finale as we wrap up our search and seek to regain all that time sunk into this podcast series.

David, Nathan, and Nick continue on their expedition for misplaced minutes, this time tackling Marcel Proust’s fifth installment, The Captive &amp; The Fugitive. Topics this time around include: the endless cycle of the narrator’s obsession and apathy toward Albertine; the errors and inconsistencies of this posthumously published work (and whether that matters at all); the ability of different readers to find different points of connection in a lengthy work so packed with details that it begins to approximate real life. Say what you will about My Darling Marcel™, but our narrator hero can still deliver quite the impressive take on art, time, and space.  Only one more volume to go — stay tuned for the coming finale as we wrap up our search and seek to regain all that time sunk into this podcast series.

93 - Marcel Proust's The Captive & The Fugitive (In Search of Lost Time #5)

Han Kang

David, Eric, and Nick dive into The Vegetarian, a 2007 novel by Han Kang that, after its English translation, won the 2016 Man Booker International Prize. This compact work will appeal to anyone interested in tightly architected narrative structures, complex questions of individual agency, and visceral scenes situated right next to moments of quiet contemplation.   One’s ability to choose, well, anything at all is not quite so black and white, is it?

David, Eric, and Nick dive into The Vegetarian, a 2007 novel by Han Kang that, after its English translation, won the 2016 Man Booker International Prize. This compact work will appeal to anyone interested in tightly architected narrative structures, complex questions of individual agency, and visceral scenes situated right next to moments of quiet contemplation. One’s ability to choose, well, anything at all is not quite so black and white, is it?

92 - Han Kang's The Vegetarian

Nathan, David, and Nick tackle Sodom and Gomorrah, the fourth volume of Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time. They discuss how groundbreaking it was at the time to so openly write about homosexuality, the noticeable increase in the narrator’s presence in the book’s happenings, and the increased level of action in play (at least in comparison to prior volumes, that is). Listen in as you continue on your own Proust journey and remember: It’s okay if you can’t pronounce French names either.

Nathan, David, and Nick tackle Sodom and Gomorrah, the fourth volume of Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time. They discuss how groundbreaking it was at the time to so openly write about homosexuality, the noticeable increase in the narrator’s presence in the book’s happenings, and the increased level of action in play (at least in comparison to prior volumes, that is). Listen in as you continue on your own Proust journey and remember: It’s okay if you can’t pronounce French names either.

91 - Marcel Proust's Sodom and Gomorrah (In Search of Lost Time #4)

Thomas Pynchon

Seth — aficionado of difficult fiction and driving force behind WASTE Mailing List — joins the podcast this episode to chat with David about the endless gifts to be found within the endless layers of Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49. Pynchon-lite it is not! Encompassing both the absurd and the prophetic, this early work by the reclusive author covers everything from embedded allusions to the cultural tumult of the 1960s, distrust of any and all formal systems, and a prescient view of the future of communication (cough, the internet, cough). But perhaps the most meaningful conclusion to draw from Pynchon’s work is the absence of drawn conclusions. It’s messy out there, readers. Grab a copy, give it a read, give it another read, then take a listen. And make sure to check out Seth’s work at WASTE Mailing List’s Youtube and Instagram.

Seth — aficionado of difficult fiction and driving force behind WASTE Mailing List — joins the podcast this episode to chat with David about the endless gifts to be found within the endless layers of Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49. Pynchon-lite it is not! Encompassing both the absurd and the prophetic, this early work by the reclusive author covers everything from embedded allusions to the cultural tumult of the 1960s, distrust of any and all formal systems, and a prescient view of the future of communication (cough, the internet, cough). But perhaps the most meaningful conclusion to draw from Pynchon’s work is the absence of drawn conclusions. It’s messy out there, readers. Grab a copy, give it a read, give it another read, then take a listen. And make sure to check out Seth’s work at WASTE Mailing List’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6TqI_9Rj0jWXsAGTnNmodw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Youtube</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wastemailinglist/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.

90 - Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49 (Guest: Seth of WASTE Mailing List)

David, Nathan, and Nick continue their journey through Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, this time discussing the third volume, The Guermantes Way. While this one might very well be “a middle book” — and by proximity, this episode “a middle episode” — there is continued brilliance to be enjoyed (if one can make it through the marathon salon scenes, that is). Come for the deep dives on The Dreyfus Affair, stay for the masterful ending. And just remember: You’re halfway home.

David, Nathan, and Nick continue their journey through Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, this time discussing the third volume, The Guermantes Way. While this one might very well be “a middle book” — and by proximity, this episode “a middle episode” — there is continued brilliance to be enjoyed (if one can make it through the marathon salon scenes, that is). Come for the deep dives on The Dreyfus Affair, stay for the masterful ending. And just remember: You’re halfway home.

89 - Marcel Proust's The Guermantes Way (In Search of Lost Time #3)

The unofficial podcast of literary misfits everywhere who want to engage with books of "substance" (i.e. serious, respected, heavy, philosophical, classic), or at least considered such.

Debating life and death of art, rise and fall of heroes and trying to answer the question whether the material is of substance and worth reading.  The setting is a mysterious place   with deeper personal reflections on the writings and their place in life. Very enjoyable!

Deep conversations about art

I like books.  I like book clubs.  I like this podcast.

Very into it

Books of Some Substance

Toni Morrison

For Books of Some Substance’s 25th episode, Nick is joined by San Francisco State American Literature Professor Sarita Cannon to discuss Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon. Listen in for insight into 1970s politics, writing books like songs, the importance of myths and ancestry, and Morrison’s knack for asking all of the right questions while not giving any of the answers.  And, oh yeah, that whole flying thing.

For Books of Some Substance’s 25th episode, Nick is joined by San Francisco State American Literature Professor Sarita Cannon to discuss Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon. Listen in for insight into 1970s politics, writing books like songs, the importance of myths and ancestry, and Morrison’s knack for asking all of the right questions while not giving any of the answers.  And, oh yeah, that whole flying thing.

25 - Fly Uncomfortably: Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon

James Baldwin

Do you drink from the cup of trembling? Do you sup those dregs of hopelessness? Welcome back B.O.S.S. listeners. We continue our journey into the work of James Baldwin by reading the story "Sonny's Blues," a narrative about addiction, artistic creation, communion, destruction, existential dread, music's universal power, poetic prose, pragmatism, siblings, suffering, the trap of home, race, redemption, and what we leave behind. Once again, David and Nick find themselves trying to convince Nathan of the "substance" of the narrative. Does Nathan have his come-to-Jesus moment? Or, does he drink from the very cup of trembling?  Find yourself a copy of the story, read it, and join us!  To receive bad-ass artwork and hand-typed invitation letters (or if you want to see what else we have read (or check out Nick's novella)), go to our website: http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/  FIND US ON:  INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK TWITTER  

Do you drink from the cup of trembling? Do you sup those dregs of hopelessness? Welcome back B.O.S.S. listeners. We continue our journey into the work of James Baldwin by reading the story "Sonny's Blues," a narrative about addiction, artistic creation, communion, destruction, existential dread, music's universal power, poetic prose, pragmatism, siblings, suffering, the trap of home, race, redemption, and what we leave behind. Once again, David and Nick find themselves trying to convince Nathan of the "substance" of the narrative. Does Nathan have his come-to-Jesus moment? Or, does he drink from the very cup of trembling?  Find yourself a copy of the story, read it, and join us!  To receive bad-ass artwork and hand-typed invitation letters (or if you want to see what else we have read (or check out Nick's novella)), go to our website: <a href="http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/</a> FIND US ON:  <a href="https://www.instagram.com/booksosubstance/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">INSTAGRAM</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BooksOfSomeSubstance/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FACEBOOK </a><a href="https://twitter.com/booksosubstance" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">TWITTER</a>

15 - The Cup of Trembling: James Baldwin's Sonny's Blues 

Flannery O'Connor

Kathleen Founds

Have you heard the bad news? God is dead. But in Flannery O'Connor's Wise Blood, you can't keep a good god down—even when you murder a consumptive flim-flam man, seduce a fifteen-year-old, and blind yourself with quicklime. So put glass shards in your shoes, turn up your headphones, and drink every time we say "nihilism."  (This episode’s summary was written by our guest, Kathleen Founds.  Before she found herself dreaming up nihilism-themed drinking games on a classic literature podcast, Founds wrote the novel When Mystical Creatures Attack!, which won the 2014 University of Iowa Press John Simmons Short Fiction Award and was named a New York Times Notable Book.)

Have you heard the bad news? God is dead. But in Flannery O'Connor's Wise Blood, you can't keep a good god down—even when you murder a consumptive flim-flam man, seduce a fifteen-year-old, and blind yourself with quicklime. So put glass shards in your shoes, turn up your headphones, and drink every time we say "nihilism."  (This episode’s summary was written by our guest, <a href="http://www.kathleenfounds.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kathleen Founds</a>.  Before she found herself dreaming up nihilism-themed drinking games on a classic literature podcast, Founds wrote the novel When Mystical Creatures Attack!, which won the 2014 University of Iowa Press John Simmons Short Fiction Award and was named a New York Times Notable Book.)

40 - #nihilism: Flannery O'Connor's Wise Blood (Guest: Kathleen Founds)

In this latest installment of the Books of Some Substance podcast David, Nick, and Eric go for a disorienting ride through the comedic darkness of László Krasznahorkai’s Satantango. This paragraph-shunning tome from the “Hungarian Master of the Apocalypse” is perfect for the reader seeking that good ole bleak, rain-soaked, mud-packed, worm-eatin’, dust-filled vibe.  Listen in for a rousing discussion in which we unlock all of the secrets: why Satantango can feel like an amalgamation of influences while being entirely its own; whether or not the point of Irimiás’ scheme remains entirely unclear; and why it is that Nick owns so many black T-shirts.

In this latest installment of the Books of Some Substance podcast David, Nick, and Eric go for a disorienting ride through the comedic darkness of László Krasznahorkai’s Satantango. This paragraph-shunning tome from the “Hungarian Master of the Apocalypse” is perfect for the reader seeking that good ole bleak, rain-soaked, mud-packed, worm-eatin’, dust-filled vibe.  Listen in for a rousing discussion in which we unlock all of the secrets: why Satantango can feel like an amalgamation of influences while being entirely its own; whether or not the point of Irimiás’ scheme remains entirely unclear; and why it is that Nick owns so many black T-shirts.

37 - The Miserable Pulp of Decay: László Krasznahorkai's Satantango

Samuel Beckett

In this installment of the Books of Some Substance podcast, Nick is joined by University of California-Berkeley English Professor Catherine Flynn to dissect the endless permutations of Samuel Beckett’s oft-overlooked Watt. Is there meaning behind Sam’s lists upon lists upon lists? Is this a reality more real than realism itself? And will there be an opportunity for Nick to —most predictably — use the term “post-post-post modern”? To language, we raise our glass, and descend into the Schopenhauerian darkness . . . but with a few delightful aphorisms destined for refrigerator magnets along the way.

In this installment of the Books of Some Substance podcast, Nick is joined by University of California-Berkeley English Professor <a href="https://english.berkeley.edu/users/360" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Catherine Flynn</a> to dissect the endless permutations of Samuel Beckett’s oft-overlooked Watt. Is there meaning behind Sam’s lists upon lists upon lists? Is this a reality more real than realism itself? And will there be an opportunity for Nick to —most predictably — use the term “post-post-post modern”? To language, we raise our glass, and descend into the Schopenhauerian darkness . . . but with a few delightful aphorisms destined for refrigerator magnets along the way.

43 - Watt the Hell?: Samuel Beckett's Watt

A Chinese home built upon the structure of an Iron Maiden riff. Reincarnation unbound by Time. The ultimate truth of Hermann Hesse as the Tony Robbins of European symbolism.  The trio is back on this full length episode. Join us as we work through Hermann Hesse's often frustrating but certainly substantial masterwork The Glass Bead Game. As always, give the novel a read and listen along.    Join the B.O.S.S. Book Club for cool artwork and to get in on the conversation: www.booksofsomesubstance.com On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BooksOfSomeSubstance/ On Twitter: @BooksOSubstance  Check out B.O.S.S. Underground Press and our first release: PWR VOL written by our very own Nick Scandy, illustrated by Aaron Zonka, and scored by mini and the Bear. 

A Chinese home built upon the structure of an Iron Maiden riff. Reincarnation unbound by Time. The ultimate truth of Hermann Hesse as the Tony Robbins of European symbolism.  The trio is back on this full length episode. Join us as we work through Hermann Hesse's often frustrating but certainly substantial masterwork The Glass Bead Game. As always, give the novel a read and listen along.  Join the B.O.S.S. Book Club for cool artwork and to get in on the conversation: <a href="http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.booksofsomesubstance.com</a> On Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BooksOfSomeSubstance/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/BooksOfSomeSubstance/</a> On Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BooksOSubstance" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@BooksOSubstance</a>  Check out <a href="http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/imprint/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">B.O.S.S. Underground Press</a> and our first release: <a href="http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/imprint-list/pwr-vol" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PWR VOL</a> written by our very own Nick Scandy, illustrated by Aaron Zonka, and scored by mini and the Bear.

11 - Ultimate Truthiness: Hermann Hesse's The Glass Bead Game

On this episode, the third in our Hemingway Short Story Month, David and Nick are joined by Stephanie to discuss the oft-anthologized "Hills Like White Elephants," an anis-soaked, dialogue-heavy, purgatorial little number in which two characters talk around the possibility of an abortion and a doomed relationship.  Find the story, and give us a listen.  Follows us on Instagram &amp; Twitter: @booksosubstance Check out our homepage: www.booksofsomesubstance.com 

On this episode, the third in our Hemingway Short Story Month, David and Nick are joined by Stephanie to discuss the oft-anthologized "Hills Like White Elephants," an anis-soaked, dialogue-heavy, purgatorial little number in which two characters talk around the possibility of an abortion and a doomed relationship.  Find the story, and give us a listen.  Follows us on Instagram &amp; Twitter: @booksosubstance Check out our homepage: <a href="http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.booksofsomesubstance.com</a>

29 - Hemingway Short Story Month: Hills Like White Elephants

You know the feeling. Or, perhaps, the lack thereof. It can happen to even the strongest human, the greatest writer, the toughest leopard capable of climbing the highest heights. But is it stagnation? Boredom? Regret? Or just your average case of gangrene? Only time (or one's continued sense of consciousness before the ultimate blackout) will tell. Bust out your hiking boots and climb to Ngaje Nga, you life-wasting fools! It's the conclusion of Hemingway Short Story Month!  Join Nick and Stephanie as they dissect one of Harry Hemingway's most prophetic short stories: "The Snows of Kilimanjaro." BYOB.  As always you can find us here: On Instagram &amp; Twitter: @booksosubstance On the ole interwebs: www.booksofsomesubstance.com 

You know the feeling. Or, perhaps, the lack thereof. It can happen to even the strongest human, the greatest writer, the toughest leopard capable of climbing the highest heights. But is it stagnation? Boredom? Regret? Or just your average case of gangrene? Only time (or one's continued sense of consciousness before the ultimate blackout) will tell. Bust out your hiking boots and climb to Ngaje Nga, you life-wasting fools! It's the conclusion of Hemingway Short Story Month!  Join Nick and Stephanie as they dissect one of Harry Hemingway's most prophetic short stories: "The Snows of Kilimanjaro." BYOB.  As always you can find us here: On Instagram &amp; Twitter: @booksosubstance On the ole interwebs: <a href="http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.booksofsomesubstance.com</a>

30 - Hemingway Short Story Month: The Snows of Kilimanjaro 

In this latest installment of the Books of Some Substance podcast San Francisco State University English Professor Sarita Cannon returns to talk about the violent grace (or graceful violence?) of Flannery O’Connor’s short story A Good Man Is Hard to Find.  Listen in as Nick and Sarita talk about the curious relationship between Catholicism and the grotesque, how O’Connor can keep a live audience laughing right up until a story plunges into mass murder, and the intriguing, dark-prophet nature of The Misfit.  Somewhat surprisingly, zero Glenn Danzig references were made.

In this latest installment of the Books of Some Substance podcast San Francisco State University English Professor <a href="https://english.sfsu.edu/people/faculty/sarita-cannon" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sarita Cannon</a> returns to talk about the violent grace (or graceful violence?) of Flannery O’Connor’s short story A Good Man Is Hard to Find.  Listen in as Nick and Sarita talk about the curious relationship between Catholicism and the grotesque, how O’Connor can keep a live audience laughing right up until a story plunges into mass murder, and the intriguing, dark-prophet nature of The Misfit.  Somewhat surprisingly, zero Glenn Danzig references were made.

39 - A Good Misfit Is Hard to Define: Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man Is Hard to Find

With Nick out for a little R&amp;R, David and Nathan are joined by B.O.S.S. Boocklub mainstay Eric Heiman for our inaugural supplemental episode.  On this episode, in preparation for further episodes on James Baldwin's literary work, we read one of his most famous essays "Notes of a Native Son" and discuss the recent documentary I Am Not Your Negro. We discuss Baldwin's struggle to shake off his father's bitterness in the face of racial oppression, his love for humanity, and his pristine analytical prose of the personal.  Find a copy, watch the documentary, and give us a listen.  If you are interested in joining up and receiving bad-ass artwork and hand-typed invitation letters (or if you want to see what else we have read or check out Nick's novella), go to our website: http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/  FIND US ON:  INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK TWITTER  

With Nick out for a little R&amp;R, David and Nathan are joined by B.O.S.S. Boocklub mainstay Eric Heiman for our inaugural supplemental episode.  On this episode, in preparation for further episodes on James Baldwin's literary work, we read one of his most famous essays "Notes of a Native Son" and discuss the recent documentary I Am Not Your Negro. We discuss Baldwin's struggle to shake off his father's bitterness in the face of racial oppression, his love for humanity, and his pristine analytical prose of the personal.  Find a copy, watch the documentary, and give us a listen.  If you are interested in joining up and receiving bad-ass artwork and hand-typed invitation letters (or if you want to see what else we have read or check out Nick's novella), go to our website: <a href="http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/</a> FIND US ON:  <a href="https://www.instagram.com/booksosubstance/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">INSTAGRAM</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BooksOfSomeSubstance/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FACEBOOK </a><a href="https://twitter.com/booksosubstance" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TWITTER</a>

14 - Once Hate is Gone: James Baldwin's Notes of a Native Son

It is as cold in the new world as it is in the old.  And on this episode Nathan tries to work with Nick and David as they come to terms with just how cold James Baldwin's novel Giovanni's Room has left them.  Can a character you neither love nor hate be compelling? Can an ending that resembles a bad music video from the 90's ruin a book? Can Nathan properly imitate the old-timey voice of a shocked news-bulletin? Can too high of expectations sour a reading? Is there any escaping our slow degradation till death? Find yourself a copy of the book, read it, and join us!  FIND US ON:  INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK TWITTER To receive bad-ass artwork and hand-typed invitation letters (or if you want to see what else we have read (or check out Nick's novella)), go to our website: http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/  

It is as cold in the new world as it is in the old.  And on this episode Nathan tries to work with Nick and David as they come to terms with just how cold James Baldwin's novel Giovanni's Room has left them.  Can a character you neither love nor hate be compelling? Can an ending that resembles a bad music video from the 90's ruin a book? Can Nathan properly imitate the old-timey voice of a shocked news-bulletin? Can too high of expectations sour a reading? Is there any escaping our slow degradation till death? Find yourself a copy of the book, read it, and join us!  FIND US ON:  <a href="https://www.instagram.com/booksosubstance/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">INSTAGRAM</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BooksOfSomeSubstance/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FACEBOOK </a><a href="https://twitter.com/booksosubstance" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">TWITTER</a> To receive bad-ass artwork and hand-typed invitation letters (or if you want to see what else we have read (or check out Nick's novella)), go to our website: <a href="http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/</a>

16 - It's Cold Out There: James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room 

Eileen Chang

Time to dust off your favorite huqin record. As the gramophone spins, the huqin's wail tells a story too desolate for words-oh! why go into it? Well, on this episode we explore Chang's desolate story "Love in a Fallen City" and parse why we think she bothers going into it. Join us as we discuss war, freedom, the deception of twice-over whoredom, sandflies, and the subtleties of love and Chang's narrative.    If you are interested in joining up and receiving bad-ass artwork and hand-typed invitation letters (or if you want to see what else we have read or check out Nick's novella), go to our website: http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/    FIND US ON:  INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK TWITTER   Eileen Chang (張煐) [1920-1995] may now be most known for her novella Lust, Caution after Ang Lee adapted it into a popular film, but her two novels critical of the communist society that she fled The Rice Sprout Song and Naked Earth are becoming more widely read. B.O.S.S.'s next book will be Naked Earth. 

Time to dust off your favorite huqin record. As the gramophone spins, the huqin's wail tells a story too desolate for words-oh! why go into it? Well, on this episode we explore Chang's desolate story "Love in a Fallen City" and parse why we think she bothers going into it. Join us as we discuss war, freedom, the deception of twice-over whoredom, sandflies, and the subtleties of love and Chang's narrative.  If you are interested in joining up and receiving bad-ass artwork and hand-typed invitation letters (or if you want to see what else we have read or check out Nick's novella), go to our website: <a href="http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/</a> FIND US ON:  <a href="https://www.instagram.com/booksosubstance/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">INSTAGRAM</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BooksOfSomeSubstance/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FACEBOOK </a><a href="https://twitter.com/booksosubstance" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TWITTER</a> Eileen Chang (張煐) [1920-1995] may now be most known for her novella Lust, Caution after Ang Lee adapted it into a popular film, but her two novels critical of the communist society that she fled The Rice Sprout Song and Naked Earth are becoming more widely read. B.O.S.S.'s next book will be Naked Earth.

12 - War for Love: Eileen Chang's Love in a Fallen City 

You may be thinking: If I had a dollar for every time I felt like I was just sitting in the waiting room of life—except that the room was an open field with a single tree in it and my best bud just wouldn’t keep his boots on—I’d be rich!  Or in a hit Samuel Beckett play.  Whether it is about morality or acceptance or the morality of acceptance, Beckett’s Waiting for Godot resonates indefinitely.  Listen in as David, Nick, and the recently returned Nathan talk it through, possibly existentially navel-gazing in the process.

You may be thinking: If I had a dollar for every time I felt like I was just sitting in the waiting room of life—except that the room was an open field with a single tree in it and my best bud just wouldn’t keep his boots on—I’d be rich!  Or in a hit Samuel Beckett play.  Whether it is about morality or acceptance or the morality of acceptance, Beckett’s Waiting for Godot resonates indefinitely.  Listen in as David, Nick, and the recently returned Nathan talk it through, possibly existentially navel-gazing in the process.

42 - Didi Up Before You Gogo: Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot

Catherine Flynn

James Joyce

In this edition of The Substance of Influence, Nick chats with University of California-Berkeley English Professor Catherine Flynn about her new book,  James Joyce and the Matter of Paris.  Listen in for discussion on the (un)romantic Paris of yesteryear, the sources of all those cool modernist moves, and why Joyce’s fiction is, um, a bit smelly.  In other news, members of the B.O.S.S. reading group in San Francisco are now terrified about the potentially impending selection (read: assignment) of Finnegans Wake.  Our deepest apologies in advance.

In this edition of The Substance of Influence, Nick chats with University of California-Berkeley English Professor <a href="https://english.berkeley.edu/users/360" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Catherine Flynn</a> about her new book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/110848557X?pf_rd_p=183f5289-9dc0-416f-942e-e8f213ef368b&amp;pf_rd_r=WQ8K63Q2XC0FRZ51ABKW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> James Joyce and the Matter of Paris</a>.  Listen in for discussion on the (un)romantic Paris of yesteryear, the sources of all those cool modernist moves, and why Joyce’s fiction is, um, a bit smelly.  In other news, members of the B.O.S.S. reading group in San Francisco are now terrified about the potentially impending selection (read: assignment) of Finnegans Wake.  Our deepest apologies in advance.

44 - The Substance of Influence: Catherine Flynn on James Joyce

Borgesian tropes, 60's pop-psych, the comfort of an infinitesimal self within the endless cosmos, the eternal return of a drunk-dialed jukebox, and livable confusion: ah yes, another episode of the BOSS podcast.   Moving on from the fiasco of reading Fiasco, David and Nick discuss Stanisław Lem's Solaris, his most popular science fiction work of failed communication. Read the book; give us a listen.  Follows us on Instagram &amp; Twitter: @booksosubstance Check out our homepage: www.booksofsomesubstance.com 

Borgesian tropes, 60's pop-psych, the comfort of an infinitesimal self within the endless cosmos, the eternal return of a drunk-dialed jukebox, and livable confusion: ah yes, another episode of the BOSS podcast.   Moving on from the fiasco of reading Fiasco, David and Nick discuss Stanisław Lem's Solaris, his most popular science fiction work of failed communication. Read the book; give us a listen.  Follows us on Instagram &amp; Twitter: @booksosubstance Check out our homepage: <a href="http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.booksofsomesubstance.com</a>

21 - The Time of Cruel Miracles: Stanisław Lem's Solaris 

We don't want other worlds, but do we want mirrors? Do we need them? From the retro-futuristic, wildly open, existentially uncertainty Andrei Tarkovsky version from 1972 to the beige and blue sleekness of Steven Soderbergh's redemptive and romantic 2002 version, David and Eric discuss the two strong adaptations of Stanisław Lem's Solaris.  Watch the films; give us a listen.  Follows us on Instagram &amp; Twitter: @booksosubstance Check out our homepage: www.booksofsomesubstance.com 

We don't want other worlds, but do we want mirrors? Do we need them? From the retro-futuristic, wildly open, existentially uncertainty Andrei Tarkovsky version from 1972 to the beige and blue sleekness of Steven Soderbergh's redemptive and romantic 2002 version, David and Eric discuss the two strong adaptations of Stanisław Lem's Solaris.  Watch the films; give us a listen.  Follows us on Instagram &amp; Twitter: @booksosubstance Check out our homepage: <a href="http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.booksofsomesubstance.com</a>

22 - Mirrors: On the Adaptations of Solaris 

On this episode David and Eric are joined by Frida Pulido, an active and engaging member of the Books of Some Substance bookclub, to discuss Carlos Fuentes' The Death of Artemio Cruz.  David questions the value of reading about such a despicable protagonist for such an extended page count, Eric finds humanity in where we all begin and eventually end, Frida schools us in the variety and elasticity of the colloquial word "chingada," and we all find plenty of substance in Fuentes' writing and philosophizing on death, memory, pain, and time.  Find yourself a copy of the book and give us a listen.    Here is where you can find us:  http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/  And here: INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK TWITTER  ☮

On this episode David and Eric are joined by Frida Pulido, an active and engaging member of the Books of Some Substance bookclub, to discuss Carlos Fuentes' The Death of Artemio Cruz.  David questions the value of reading about such a despicable protagonist for such an extended page count, Eric finds humanity in where we all begin and eventually end, Frida schools us in the variety and elasticity of the colloquial word "chingada," and we all find plenty of substance in Fuentes' writing and philosophizing on death, memory, pain, and time.  Find yourself a copy of the book and give us a listen.  Here is where you can find us:  <a href="http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/</a> And here: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/booksosubstance/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">INSTAGRAM</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BooksOfSomeSubstance/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">FACEBOOK </a><a href="https://twitter.com/booksosubstance" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">TWITTER</a>  ☮

19 - La Chingada Muerte: Carlos Fuentes' The Death of Artemio Cruz

If by chance—and what else really controls it all other than chance?—you are into examining the futility of it all, or, of course, the scorn of it all, then the latest B.O.S.S. podcast on László Krasznahorkai’s The Last Wolf in which David, Stephanie, and Nick examine the tale of how a washed up German author tells the tale of traveling to the barren plains of Spain to encounter a warden telling a tale of how the area’s final wolf perished—yes, perished—all told to the Hungarian barman who doesn’t totally mind, even though this Stammgast isn’t Hungarian or even a good looking chick, is for you (the podcast episode, that is, but also the book, naturally).

If by chance—and what else really controls it all other than chance?—you are into examining the futility of it all, or, of course, the scorn of it all, then the latest B.O.S.S. podcast on László Krasznahorkai’s The Last Wolf in which David, Stephanie, and Nick examine the tale of how a washed up German author tells the tale of traveling to the barren plains of Spain to encounter a warden telling a tale of how the area’s final wolf perished—yes, perished—all told to the Hungarian barman who doesn’t totally mind, even though this Stammgast isn’t Hungarian or even a good looking chick, is for you (the podcast episode, that is, but also the book, naturally).

35 - The Last Super Blood Wolf Moon: László Krasznahorkai's The Last Wolf

Howdy bright boys and girls!  Roll over in bed, face the wall, and forget the wrong people you double-crossed in Chicago with a new episode of the Books of Some Substance podcast.  This month we are reading four of Papa Hemingway's short stories. First up: The Killers, an elevated piece of noir with all the Hemingway trimmings.  Follows us on Instagram &amp; Twitter: @booksosubstance Check out our homepage: www.booksofsomesubstance.com 

Howdy bright boys and girls!  Roll over in bed, face the wall, and forget the wrong people you double-crossed in Chicago with a new episode of the Books of Some Substance podcast.  This month we are reading four of Papa Hemingway's short stories. First up: The Killers, an elevated piece of noir with all the Hemingway trimmings.  Follows us on Instagram &amp; Twitter: @booksosubstance Check out our homepage: <a href="http://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.booksofsomesubstance.com</a>

27 - Hemingway Short Story Month: The Killers

Emily Brontë

Did you just stop at digging up her body? How crippling is your love? In this episode, San Francisco State University Literature Professor Summer Star joins Nick and David for a rousingly dark conversation on Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. Is this story within a story within a story meant to be identifiable to anyone? Are those really ghosts? Is Heathcliff a critique of mid-19th century British class structure, a rotten bastard, or simply one who loves and revenges harder than any made for TV adaptation can handle?    Like the cosmos, Wuthering Hearts is vast. And inside us all.

Did you just stop at digging up her body? How crippling is your love? In this episode, San Francisco State University Literature Professor <a href="https://english.sfsu.edu/people/faculty/summer-star" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Summer Star</a> joins Nick and David for a rousingly dark conversation on Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. Is this story within a story within a story meant to be identifiable to anyone? Are those really ghosts? Is Heathcliff a critique of mid-19th century British class structure, a rotten bastard, or simply one who loves and revenges harder than any made for TV adaptation can handle?    Like the cosmos, Wuthering Hearts is vast. And inside us all.

34: United in Putrification: Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights (Guest: Summer Star)

The Best Multi-Part Documentaries, with documentaries on Obama, Federer vs Nadal, the making of Star Wars, Netflix vs Blockbuster and more. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Multi-Part Documentaries

The best podcast episodes of anyone with an interesting story. With famous guests like Obama, LeBron James, Drake, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Michelle Obama, Serena Williams, to anyone who has a unique and interesting story to tell. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!