The Satire Fire

Has a bushel been put on The Satire Fire? Not quite, don't think you can hide our light so easily. We are going to be taking a short-term hiatus from the podcast while we get some life stuff sorted out! Tune in for the details, but we hope to be back with new episodes in April. In the meantime, keep on supporting your local librarians!

So you saw someone steal bread and you're what, gonna tell the nearest cop? Cringe. We are back with another interlude episode and this week we are discussing the 1936 movie Modern Times by Charlie Chaplin! This is a movie all about the ways in which capitalism can move to benefit the wealthy while keeping down the poor. It deals with automation, labor strikes, police, and poverty all at the same time! We take the time to break down the plot, discuss the meaning. and finally give a review of the movie as a whole. We hope you enjoy and then join us back next week when Sydney will be starting a brand new series on The Captain and The Glory that you won't want to miss!Other stuff discussed this episode:"Wuthering Heights"Marty SupremeFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

In this final part of our Player Piano series we are putting all the pieces together! With the context from Part 2 and the plot from Part 1, can we understand what this book is trying to say? Probably so, because Vonnegut certainly wasn't known for subtleties. In this part we analyze and interpret the book, talk about its relevance in the modern era of work, and also discuss how good it is generally! Does it stand up to other Vonnegut classics? Is it worth your time to read it? Find out all that and more on this installment of the Satire Fire!Other stuff discussed this episode:Tau Zero by Poul AndersonPinterest Vision BoardsFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Feel stuck in a deadend job in a deadend town with a deadend life? Well turns out, maybe that's because rich people hate you! In this episode we are looking at the historical context behind Player Piano by looking at the history of labor from before the Industrial Revolution right up until the book was written. Why so much talk about robots? What's the big deal with unemployment? Tune in to find out, then come back next week for Part 3 where we will use the context to give the book a final analysis!Other stuff discussed this episode:Kentucky Route ZeroThe Great Divide by Noah KahanFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

We are back with a book that dares to ask the question "What if being unemployed is worse than going to work?" as we start our series on Kurt Vonnegut's Player Piano! This book deals with an alternative version of America where human labor has been fully replaced with an automated world run by engineers and managers. It has a lot to say about labor, human dignity, how we find purpose, and much more! In this part we will be talking about the plot of the book, breaking it down in case you haven't read it or in case it has been a while since you read it. Then join us back next week for Part 2 where we will talk about the historical context of the book so it makes a little more sense!Other stuff discussed this episode:Good Material by Dolly AldertonFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

It's time to put on those headphones and drift away, because The Satire Fire is back with another edition of the Fire Mixtapes! In this episode we will be discussing the conceptual album Animals by the legendary Pink Floyd. This album adopts some of the imagery and symbolism of Animal Farm to tell a story of British dissatisfaction and rebellion in the 1970's. Strap in to hear our hosts take on the task of breaking down the music and lyrics of this album to tell you all about the satire it is using as well as how successful we think it is! Then be sure to join us again next week for the start of our series on Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut.Other stuff discussed this episode:Heavy Metal by Cameron WinterBeach Read by Emily HenryA/B by KaleoFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

We have reached the end of our series on George Orwell's Animal Farm which can only mean one thing; it's time to put the context and the plot together to see what this whole thing is about! In this week's episode we will be looking at how successfully this book is communicating its message, if that message is any good, and how relevant the message still is today. Is it actually possible to fit the entirety of the Russian Revolution in a book this small without losing something important? That's what we aim to find out! Then be sure to join us back next week for our interlude episode where we will discuss the album Animals by Pink Floyd!Other stuff discussed this episode:NW by Zadie SmithBeach Read by Emily HenryFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

And here we are in the middle of the long and fruitful leadership of Vladimir Lenin and... Wait a second, is that Joseph Stalin's music?? Welcome to Part Two of our series on George Orwell's Animal Farm! Thia week we are taking a dive into the history behind this book so we can better understand what exactly Orwell was hoping for us to learn from it. Sydney gives us a brief look at the life of Orwell (but for a detailed summary check out Part Two of our 1984 series), discusses the Russian Revolution that changed the country from the ground up, and points out what aspects of that history Orwell has placed in his novella! Then be sure to join us back next week when we put all the pieces together and analyze the book, telling you just how good we think it is!Other stuff discussed this episode:Boys of Alabama by Genevieve HudsonOrbital by Samantha HarveyThe Satire Fire "Episode 3: 1984 Part 2"Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Welcome to a new year and a new series of the Satire Fire! We are starting the year off strong with the classic George Orwell novella Animal Farm. This is Orwell's first step into the socialist themes that would come to define his work. Here on an unassuming farm Orwell weaves a narrative of greed, revolution, and class struggle that has become a staple of modern English literature! Join us this week as we discuss the plot of the story, breaking down all the major beats so you are all caught up if it has been a while since you read it. Then join us again next week as our journey into the context of this book takes us on a trip through the Russian Revolution before we take on the task of analyzing and reviewing the story in Part Three!Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

We have reached the end of the year and that can only mean one thing! It is time for Sydney and Samuel to speculate wildly on what will happen in the world of books in 2026! This is the start of a yearly tradition where your Satire Fire hosts will put their industry knowledge to the test by making 10 predictions each about the upcoming year, then check back in next December to see who is the best at guessing. Be sure to fill out your own bingo card at home to follow along with us! Then be sure to join us back next week as we go back to our regular programming by starting a series on the George Orwell book Animal Farm!Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

It's the week of Christmas and much like the proverbial bird in the hand Samuel is alone! Sydney had some travel issues which means Samuel is picking the topic and running the show by himself this week, and the holiday topic he has chosen to cover is... Niche erotica? This week Samuel talks us through the enigma that is Chuck Tingle, breaks down the artistry and satire that he uses in his works, and then analyzes a story that is sure to be a holiday favorite for some of you out there! Come back next week for our final Stocking Stuffer of the season when Samuel and (hopefully) Sydney will be making their literary predictions for the new year!Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Welcome back to the Satire Fire Stocking Stuffer Series, where each week we are bringing you a fun and casual holiday episode to help with that seasonal stress! This week we are playing a holiday movie game where Sydney and Samuel take turns guessing the plots of movies they haven't actually seen! Are we true media knowers, or just pretenders to the throne? What kind of comprehension skills do you need to host a book podcast? Do either of these movies even need to be seen? The only way to find out is by listening, and the only way to listen is by playing so go ahead and jump right in!Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

It's the most Holiday time of the year, and The Satire Fire is here with a short holiday supplemental episode! Wait what's that? Sydney and Samuel got too caught up talking about their favorite books and accidentally recorded a full length supplemental? Well, 'tis the season of giving and here we are giving you a full hour of your favorite book podcast! For this first Stocking Stuffer we are talking about our personal 5 favorite books and who in your life they might be a good gift for. With books ranging from nonfiction memoirs to western epics, we have every reader on your list covered. Then join us again for next week's supplemental where we will be playing a holiday movie game!Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

We are one last time venturing into the tunnels under your floorboards to figure out exactly what that guy living there is up to. This is the final episode of our series on Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground and it is the one we have all been waiting for! In Part One we discussed the plot, in Part Two we examined the context, and here in Part Three we are finally analyzing! We discuss what the whole point of the book is, look at why Dostoevsky may have written it and what he was hoping to say with it, and also give our thoughts on it. Is the book any good? Is it making useful commentary? Does that dang Underground Man actually have a point? Find out all that and more in this week's episode!Other stuff discussed this episode:A People's History of the Unites States by Howard ZinnSydney's sick new lunch recipeFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Can you smell what Dostoevsky's cooking?? Spoiler alert, it's a poignant picture of the human condition that also doubles as a pointed insult for a guy he disliked! We are back for Part 2 of our series on Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground and this episode is all about the context. Turns out kids these days don't know what was going on in 1800's Russia, so we are here to tell you about the life of Dostoevsky, what events led him to writing Notes from Underground, and what exactly it is he is writing in reference to! It's a great time and we hope you enjoy it. Then be sure to come back next week for Part 3 where we will put the plot and the context together to finally discuss if this book is worth all the hype or if it was just a flop!Other stuff discussed this episode:Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden KeefeLocal updates on the brewery scene in Knoxville, TNFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

What's that noise I hear? Has someone crept into my basement and started playing the hit literary podcast The Satire Fire from their portable speaker? Oh how thoughtful! This week we are starting the ambitious challenge of discussing Fyodor Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, the novel equivalent of a diss track! In this part we will be discussing the plot of the book, getting you caught up if it has been a while since you read it or if you aren't familiar with it at all. Then next week we will be back to break down the context behind this particular beef, talking about all the context you need to know to appreciate this 19th Century classic. Is this narrator relatable? Is he merely the world's first incel? Is he an empath? Tune in to find out all this and more!Other stuff discussed this episode:The Book of Mormon (the musical, not the religious text)The Sewanee Review (and the state of writing in general)Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

The days are shorter, the holidays are coming, and that means it's time to watch a Jane Austen romance movie! Join us this week as we talk about and review the 2007 movie adaptation of Northanger Abbey starring podcast darling Carey Mulligan. We break down what the differences are between the book and the movie, if one of them is better than the other, then spend a lot of time talking about movie adaptations in general. If you are like us and have a lot of thoughts about books being made into movies, this one is for you! Then be sure to come back next week when we start our new series on Fyodor Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, our last series of the year before our special holiday episodes!Other stuff discussed this episode:I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham JonesSydney's European AdventureFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

It's crumpets season baby, and we are bringing even more cozy vibes to relax and study to! We are back with our final part on Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, a story all about being a girl who, get this, is not like the other girls. We take the plot we discussed in Part 1, look at it in conjunction with the historical context of Part 2, and come out the other side with an analysis of the themes and messages here in Part 3! Is this book worthwhile? Do the themes hold up? Does Samuel talk for a long time about an entirely unrelated genre? Tune in to find out, then join us back next week as we watch the 2007 movie adaptation of the book together!Other stuff discussed this episode:Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtySing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn WardFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Ever wonder why Jane Austen wrote so much about rich people? Here's a bit of a spoiler: it certainly wasn't because she was poor! We are back with the history of Jane Austen and some context behind her novel Northanger Abbey, where we will teach out all about gothic novels, Regency Era life, and also who Samuel's favorite modern horror author is! So be sure to get out your tea and crumpets for this one, and maybe save some for next week's Part 3 where we will use this context to analyze the book and give it our final reviews.Other stuff discussed this episode:Stephen Graham JonesA trip to EuropeFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

What's the deal with all these rich people?? The time has finally come for The Satire Fire to go high-brow and so here we are with Jane Austen's classic novel Northanger Abbey. This one has all the messy drama of a season of Love Island, so if you love gossip you will love this book! In this first part we will be breaking down the plot of the book, getting all of us caught up to speed about what is going on. Then next week we will be back with an episode all about the context of the book before finally we dive into an analysis and review! Other stuff discussed this episode:Number Go Up by Zeke FauxIf Books Could Kill PodcastThe Life of a Showgirl by Taylor SwiftFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Impressive, very nice. But let's hear Paul Allen's podcast intro. We are back with another interlude, this time discussing the American Psycho movie adaptation from 2000! We break down the plot, compare it to the plot of the book, and then spend some time analyzing the themes and discussing the ways it is perhaps better or worse than the book. If you want to hear about the book in more detail, good news! The three part series we just finished was all about it and you can go back and check it out before listening to this episode. Then be sure to come back next week to catch the start of out new series on Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen!Other stuff discussed this episode:Normal People by Sally RooneyThe Poppy War by R. F. KuangFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

It's time to finally lay this queen to rest and move on from the fashion diva Pat Bateman! This is our third and final episode on the book American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis and we are using it to discuss the themes of the book, see how they hold up in a modern context, and finally give our personal reviews! Is it too much? Is it a misunderstood masterpiece? Did Sydney hate every second of reading it? Tune in to find out, then come back next week to hear us talk about the 2000 movie adaptation of the book!Other stuff discussed this episode:Listening to playlists to fall asleepRose City Comic ConFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Get out of my neighborhood ya damn yuppies! It's our second episode of our series on American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis and it is time for some context! In this episode we will be talking about the history of the author, the controversy that surrounded this book's release, and what was going on at the time that made this book relevant! We will also be discussing some of the modern context of this book, talking about how critical opinions have shifted and public reception has changed. Then next week we will be analyzing and ranking the book on our list of every satirical book ever written, so tune in again next Sunday!Other works discussed this episode:Storm Front by Jim ButcherThe Wishbone Pajama Show tour by Conan GrayFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Have you put on your sunscreen yet today? How about your retinol cream? Your anti-aging anti-wrinkle serum? You should really get on that, god forbid you look your age. This week we are starting our series on American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, a notorious and perhaps even infamous satire of society! For Part 1 we will be talking about the plot of the book, getting you caught up if you haven't read it or if it has been a while since you did. Then next week we will be looking at the context within which this book was written before finally analyzing and reviewing it in Part 3! Until then, be sure to get your money up.Other works discussed this episode:Conversations with Friends by Sally RooneyThe Korean corn-dogs in Boston (not a book or anything, we are just fans)Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Personally, we think Al and Schmidt should've kissed. In this interlude week of The Satire Fire we will be discussing Emerald Fennell's debut 2020 film Promising Young Woman! This is a satirical film looking at the harm that women face in their every day lives and the ways the system fails them after they have been harmed. It ties in nicely with the three part series we just finished on Her Body and Other Parties, and sets us up for our next series on American Psycho! We hope you enjoy this one, and we will be excited to see you again next week for our plot summary of the cult classic. Other works discussed this episode:Ms. 45 (1981)Red, White, and Royal Blue (2023)Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

We are ending our time with the powerful short story collection Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado with a discussion on two final stories: "Mothers" and "Difficult at Parties". These two stories deal with the struggle to put things back together after they fall apart, looking at the pain of mourning an abusive relationship in the first and the challenges of intimacy after an assault in the later. After discussing them both we will talk about the collection as a whole, what we liked and what we didn't, before finally answering the question everyone is asking; where does this book fall in the Satire Fire Official Rankings?? Tune in to find out!Other works discussed this episode:Young Men and Fire by Norman MacleanNormal People by Sally RooneyIn the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado"Venus in Two Acts" by Saidiya HartmanFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Another week, another set of stories that are tough to be witty about! This week we are continuing our series on Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado by discussing "Real Women Have Bodies" and "Eight Bites", two stories dealing with the beauty standards women face and the resulting harm that befalls them. This is another heavy one so listen at your own discretion! Next week we will be finishing our series on this book with a discussion on "Mothers" and "Difficult at Parties". Surely those aren't also deeply emotional, right?"When Can a Woman Who Kills Her Abuser Claim Self Defense?" by Rachel Louise SnyderOther works discussed this episode:No One is Talking About This by Patricia LockwoodThe Summer I Turned Pretty (2022)Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Oh boy, time for a doozy! This week we are kicking off our series on the short story collection Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado. This series will be a little different than most, where instead of breaking the entire book down over three episodes we will instead be fully exploring only one or two of the short stories for each of the three parts. This week we start with the opening story "The Husband Stitch", a grueling depiction of the entitlement men feel over the lives and bodies of women. We still have fun looking at the plot and context, but do be aware of the content warning at the top! Next week we will be covering "Eight Bites" and "Real Women Have Bodies" and we will be excited to see you again then!Tulane's Timeline of the History of Sexual Violence in the U.S.Other works discussed this episode:The Thursday Murder Club by Richard OsmanJohn Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly BelflowerFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

So, anybody feeling Jello Shots? Or perhaps want to attend a Broadway show? If you're looking for a man who can do both, look no further than the late, great satirist Tom Lehrer! In this episode we break down the interesting life history of Lehrer, as well as examining some of his most popular satirical songs. Was he the Bo Burnham of his time? Is he better at math than us? Was he on a first name basis with multiple rappers or only the one? Tune in to find out, then come back next week when we start our series on Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado!Other works discussed this episode:The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ KluneNotes from Underground by Fyodor DostoevskyFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Your two favorite public library supporters are back to finish our series on Kirsten Miller's book Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books! In Part 1 we summarized the plot of the book, in Part 2 we discussed the context behind the book, and now in Part 3 we will be using what we have learned to analyze, rate, and rank this book! After that we will be leaving this fantasy world of book banning behind and entering the real world where surely we have solved that problem by now, right?Donate to Little Free LibrariesOther works discussed this episode:Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha ChristieBite Me by Renee RappFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

We are back again with Part Two of our series on Kirsten Miller's book Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books! If you missed Part One, go back and check it out for a plot summary of this excellent recent release (or better yet, pick up a copy and read it yourself!). In this part we will be familiarizing ourselves with the context behind the book, namely the history of book bans in America! There is an unfortunately long history of book censorship around the world and in America that has culminated in a strange surge in the past few years. What led us to this point? Is it really as serious as some people say? Can we vote to take away a person's teaching license? Find out all this and more on this week's episode?Donate to Little Free LibrariesDonate to the ALABookshop List of Books Vicki Baggett Wants BannedOther works discussed this episode:All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony DoerrFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

How many of you have been personally victimized by Lula Dean? We are back with part one of our most contemporary book series to date! In this first part we will be looking at the plot of Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller, brushing you up on all that happens to get ready for the context we will discuss in part two and the analysis in part three. This is a great book that we both loved, so be sure to check it our if you haven't already!Donate to Little Free LibrariesOther works discussed this episode:2666 by Roberto BolanoFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

It's podcast vacation time and we are participating in silent viewing time! In this in between books week we are talking about the 1921 silent file The Kid by none other than Charlie Chaplin. This movie with both a smile and a tear follows a found family of a man and a boy who are doing their best to make it work when they don't have two pennies to rub together. It is a great time and a fun conversation, so join us to hear all our thoughts on this slapstick classic!Other works discussed this episode:Less by Andrew Sean GreerThe Book Series by a TERFFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

And how did we then face the odds, of man's rude slapstick, yes, and God's? By making a three part podcast series about it. We are sending off Slapstick by Kurt Vonnegut with one last episode, examining the themes and relating them to the context to see if this book is still any good! Are any of the themes still relevant? Are the messages worth heeding? Is the most mediocre Vonnegut still really good? Tune in to hear our thoughts!Other works discussed this episode:All Fours by Miranda July"The Last Book I Loved: Kurt Vonnegut’s Slapstick and the Shifting of Cultural Values" by Lily Houston SmithFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Part 2 of our series on Slapstick by Kurt Vonnegut is here, which means Sydney is teaching us all about the life and times of Kurt! Kurt had an interesting and at times difficult life that shaped him into the author and humorist that we all know, and unpacking that history will put into perspective what Vonnegut called his most autobiographical book. Was he also born to a wealthy but distant family? Did the loss of a sister bring his world crashing down? Did he ever serve as the President of the United States? Listen to find out, because the answer may surprise you!Other works discussed this episode:Everything is Tuberculosis by John GreenThe Monk of Mokha by Dave EggersFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Well it certainly took long enough, but the wait is over! We are officially covering our first book by Kurt Vonnegut and outing ourselves as... Vonnegonians? Vonnegutions? Enjoyers of Kurt Vonnegut. This is part one of our series on Slapstick, or Lonesome No More! by Kurt Vonnegut. This part will have Sydney talking us through the plot, explaining what happens in the book, and pointing out some of the moments that will be important when it comes time to analyze the themes of the book! So join us for a nice, relaxing discussion on a wholesome book that has only a little bit of incest in it!Other works discussed this episode:Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-BrenyahSunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (and the rest of the Hunger Games series)Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Finally, our long awaited and much requested (by Samuel) movie episode! In this interlude episode we will be discussing the 2018 adaptation (or perhaps re-imagining?) of the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Starring Michael B. Jordan and Michael Shannon, this movie deals with the same themes as the novel of the same name, plus a little extra about the internet and surveillance! Is it better than the book? Does the plot make any sense? Is there such a thing as too many Michaels for one movie? Tune in to find out!Other works discussed this episode:Cowboy Carter by BeyonceSinners (2025)Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

It is our final episode in the Fahrenheit 451 series and we still have more to say! This classic novella has become culturally synonymous with book banning, but what does it actually have to say on the subject? After hearing the plot in Part 1 and the context in Part 2, can we understand the message this book has for the reader? Does it deserve to be heralded as a staple of classic literature? Are any of its takes relevant for the modern day, or better yet are any of them even good?? Find out all this and more in this episode, then come back next week to hear us talk about the book's 2018 movie adaptation!Other works discussed this episode:Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda LoWe Both Laughed in Pleasure by Lou SullivanFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

On this episode of The Satire Fire, Sydney and Samuel continue their Fahrenheit 451 series with the history of Ray Bradbury and the context of the time when he wrote the book! Samuel talks us through a brief biography about Bradbury before going in depth about his beliefs and opinions on the world. What was his philosophy? Did he even have one? And what's up with all his weird definitions of the term "minority"? Find out all that and more this week! Haven't read Fahrenheit 451? Maybe go back and listen to Part 1 to get caught up! Then come back next week to hear our final analysis, review, and ranking of this classic book!Other books discussed in this episode:Weyward by Emilia HartThe Sirens by Emilia HartStrange Beasts of China by Yan GeFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.

Samuel is back with a brand new book, and this one also has numbers in the title! This is the start of our series on Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, an undeniable classic and cornerstone of the dystopian satire genre. But is it really all it's cracked up to be? Does it even really make any sense? In this first part Samuel will be taking us through the plot of the book and pointing out some of the parts that work and some of the parts that maybe don't. We have a lot of feelings about this book, and will have even more next week when we discuss the history of the book and Ray Bradbury himself!Other works discussed this episode:Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia ArmfieldPenance by Eliza ClarkFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

It's interlude time and Sydney has brought us three excellent songs to discuss! Join us in analyzing the satirical elements of "National Anthem" by Lana Del Rey, "Liquid Smooth" by Mitski, and "The Good Times are Killing Me" by Modest Mouse. All three are great, so give them a listen before jumping in to hear us answer the important questions! What are these songs saying? Do they qualify as satire? Does the name Modest Mouse imply the existence of Sultry Rat? Tune in to find out all this and more!Other works discussed this episode:Empty Bottles Full of Stories by R. H. Sin and Robert M. DrakeThe Remains of the Day by Kazuo IshiguroFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

And here we are one last time. This episode is the conclusion of our series on Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and boy do we have a lot to say! This book has a lot of themes related to consumption and technology and individuality, but are they any good? Does Aldous stick the landing, or is he just rambling? Does Samuel get on another soapbox about hating this book? The only way to find out is by listening!Other works discussed this episode:True Grit by Charles PortisThe L WordFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

It's time for Part 2 and Sydney has emerged from the depths of her research to teach us all about Aldous Huxley! In this episode we learn all about his past, what led to him writing Brave New World, and what parts of his history help us to interpret this classic work of satire! Tune in to hear about big babies, encyclopedias, Samson from the Bible, and (somehow) the Lakers. Then be sure to come back next week as we analyze this classic and tell you if it is worth your time!Other works discussed this episode:Dr. No by Percival Everett1984 by George OrwellFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Here is Part 1 on our Brave New World series! Finally we get to listen to Sydney yap while Samuel listens as politely as he is capable of! In this part Sydney takes us through the plot of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, highlighting all the elements that are important to understanding the themes and ideas of the book. Haven't read Brave New World before or don't remember it very well? This episode will get you caught up for the rest of the series! Be sure to join us next week as we continue the series with Sydney breaking down all the historical context behind the book and the author!Other works discussed this episode:Erasure by Percival EverettBrat by Charli xcx (Brat summer forever)Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Welcome to our first interlude episode! This week Samuel is talking about How To Get Ahead In Advertising, a 1989 film following an advertising executive who is slowly losing his mind. It satirizes the advertising industry, government propaganda, and good old capitalism. Plus it has a lot of connections with 1984 by George Orwell! Did Sydney like the movie? Does Samuel do a Richard Grant impression? Listen to find out!Other works discussed this episode:Demon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverAnora (2024)The House That Screamed (1969)Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

On this episode of The Satire Fire, Sydney and Samuel conclude our 1984 series by digging into the themes and messages Orwell is using. Samuel talks a lot about NewSpeak! Sydney can't get enough of individual expression! It's bananas! Haven't read 1984? Maybe go back and listen to Part 1 to get caught up! Want to know what the history is that led us to our conclusions? Give Part 2 a try!Other books discussed in this episode:Martyr! by Kaveh AkbarThe House of my Mother by Shari FrankeThe Handmaid's Tale by Margaret AtwoodFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.

On this episode of The Satire Fire, Sydney and Samuel continue their series on 1984 with a history of the author George Orwell! Samuel takes us through Orwell's life from his birth in British India up to the writing of 1984 and everything in between that helps us understand the context of 1984. Haven't read 1984? Maybe go back and listen to Part 1 to get caught up! This is our last background episode for 1984, so be sure to come back next week for the conclusion of the series.Other books discussed in this episode: The Secret History by Donna Tartt and Hijab Butch Blues; A Memoir by Lamya HFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.

On this episode of The Satire Fire, Sydney and Samuel start their series on 1984 by George Orwell! Part 1 will be a plot breakdown, with Samuel covering all the basic elements you will need to follow along with later discussions. Haven't read 1984? Or maybe read it too long ago to remember it fully? Then this will get you up to speed!Other books discussed in this episode: Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe and Intermezzo by Sally RooneyFollow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.

Welcome to The Satire Fire! Sydney and Samuel are on a mission to read every piece of satire ever written and we want to bring you along with us! In this episode we introduce ourselves and the podcast, then break down the most famous satirical pamphlet we know; "A Modest Proposal" by Dr. Jonathan Swift. What is Jonathan proposing? Is it modest and demure? Do we have a new culinary sensation on our hands? Tune in to find out!Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.