All Episodes
Close Reads Podcast — 496 episodes
The Grapes of Wrath Q&A Episode
The Grapes of Wrath: Chapter 26
The Grapes of Wrath: Chapters 22-25
Short Story Hour: "Leaf by Niggle" by J. R. R. Tolkien (FREE PREVIEW)
The Grapes of Wrath: Chapters 19-21
The Grapes of Wrath: Chapters 15-18
The Grapes of Wrath: Chapters 8-14
The Grapes of Wrath: Chapters 1-7
This Is Happiness: Q&A Episode
This Is Happiness: To the End
This Is Happiness: Chapters 23-31
This Is Happiness: Chapters 12-22
This Is Happiness: Chapters 1-11
The Age of Innocence: Q&A Episode
The Age of Innocence: To the End
Age of Innocence: Chapters 19-25
The Age of Innocence: Chapters 10-18
Age of Innocence: Chapters I-IX
2025: A Year of Reading in Review
Much Ado About Nothing: Q&A Episode
A Christmas Mailbag
Much Ado About Nothing: Act 5
Much Ado About Nothing: Act IV
Much Ado About Nothing: Act III
Much Ado About Nothing: Act II
Much Ado About Nothing: Act I
A Farewell to Arms: Q&A Episode
A Farewell to Arms: Book 5
A Farewell to Arms: Book 4
A Farewell to Arms: Book 3
A Farewell to Arms: Book 2 (Chapters 13-24)
A Farewell to Arms: Book One (Chapters 1-12)
Q&A: The Princess and the Goblin + Ask-Us-Anything
The Princess and the Goblin: To the End
The Princess and the Goblin: Chapters 1-14
The Great Winnowing of 2025 (for 2026)
Wuthering Heights: Q&A
Wuthering Heights: Final Chapters
Wuthering Heights: Chapters 22-28
Wuthering Heights: Chapters 15-21
Close Reads Live: A Special Tenth Anniversary Discussion of "A Good Man Is Hard to Find"
Wuthering Heights: Chapters 11-14
Wuthering Heights: Chapters 7-10
Wuthering Heights: Chapters 1-6
The Great Gatsby: Q&A Episode
The Great Gatsby: The Final Chapters
The Great Gatsby: Chapter 4-6
The Great Gatsby: Chapters 1-3
A Mailbag Episode
Piranesi: Q&A Episode
Piranesi: To the End
Piranesi: Chapters 4 and 5
Piranesi: Parts 2 and 3
Piranesi: Part 1
O Pioneers!: Q&A Episode
O Pioneers!: To the End
O Pioneers!: Parts 2 & #
O Pioneers!: Part 1
A Tale of Two Cities: Q&A Episode
The Jane Austen Heist Draft
A Tale of Two Cities: Final Chapters
Now Available to Pre-order: "The Divided Soul: Duty and Desire in Literature and Life" by Heidi White
A Tale of Two Cities: Book 3, Chapters 1-8
A Tale of Two Cities: To the End of Book 2
A Tale of Two Cities: Book 2, Chapters 14-19
A Tale of Two Cities: Part 2, Chapters 7-13
A Tale of Two Cities: Book 2, Chapters 1-6
A Tale of Two Cities: Book 1, Chapters 1-6
The Bridge of San Luis Rey Q&A
The Bridge of San Luis Rey: To the End
The Bridge of San Luis Rey: Parts 1-3
The Great Passion: Q&A Episode
The Great Passion: To the End
The Year in the Reading Episode
The Great Passion: Chapters 13-18
The Great Passion: Chapters 7-12
The Great Passion: Chapters 1-6
Black Friday Ask-Us-Anything Q&A
Station Eleven: Q&A Episode
Station Eleven: Chapters 6-9 (to the end)
Station Eleven: Parts 5-6
Station Eleven: Parts 3-4
Station Eleven: Parts 1 & 2
Vipers' Tangle: Q&A Episode
Vipers' Tangle: To the End
Live Episode: Is Flannery O'Connor Funny?
Vipers' Tangle: Chapters 11-15
Vipers' Tangle: Chapters 6-10
Viper's Tangle: Chapters 1-5
Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont: Q&A Episode
Announcing the 2025 Book List (AKA: The Great Winnowing)!
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont: The Final Chapters
Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont: Chapters 7-12
Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont: Chapters 1-6
Sing, Unburied, Sing: Final Chapters
Sing, Unburied, Sing: Chapters 8-11
Sing, Unburied, Sing: Chapters 4-7
Sing, Unburied, Sing: Chapters 1-3
To Kill a Mockingbird: Q&A Episode
To Kill a Mockingbird: The Final Chapters
To Kill a Mockingbird: Chapters 15-22
To Kill a Mockingbird: Chapters 9-14
To Kill a Mockingbird: Chapters 1-8
An 1860's Book Draft
The Summer Book: Second Half
The Summer Book: First Half
Trust: Q&A Episode
Trust: Part 4
Trust: Part 3
Trust: Part 2
Trust: Part One
The Hobbit: Q&A episode
The Hobbit: Back Again (The Final Chapters)
The Hobbit: Chapters 7-13
The Hobbit: Chapters 1-6
The Road: Q&A
The End of "The Road"
The Road: Pages 93-198
The Road: Pages 1-92
The Warden: Q&A Episode
The Warden: The Final Chapters
The Warden: Chapters 11-15
The Warden: Chapters 6-11
The Warden: Chapters 1-5
Summer Lightning: Q&A Episode
Summer Lightning: Chapters 6-13
Summer Lightning: Chapters 1-5
Things Fall Apart: Q&A Episode
Close Reads at the Movies: "The Apartment"
Recapping Our Favorite Reads of 2023
Things Fall Apart: Parts 2 and 3
Things Fall Apart: Part 1
A 1920s Book Draft
A Canticle For Leibowitz: Q&A Episode
A Canticle for Leibowitz: To the End
A Canticle for Leibowitz: Chapters 16-24
A Canticle for Liebowitz: Chapters 9-15
A Canticle for Liebowitz: Chapters 1-8
The Moving Toyshop: Q&A
The Moving Toyshop: Second Half
The Moving Toyshop: Chapters 1-7
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich: Q&A Episode
Announcing the Book List for 2024: The Great Winnowing!
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich: To the End
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich: First Half
The Picture of Dorian Gray: Q&A Episode
The Divided Soul in the American South: A Close Reads on the Road Talk
The Picture of Dorian Gray: Final Chapters
The Picture of Dorian Gray: Chapters 8-12
The Picture of Dorian Gray: Chapters 4-7
The Picture of Dorian Gray: Chapters 1-3
A Movie Adaptations Draft
Everything Sad Is Untrue Q&A (feat. Daniel Nayeri)
Everything Sad Is Untrue: To the End
Everything Sad Is Untrue: Through page 231
Everything Sad Is Untrue: 1-114
The Scarlet Letter: Q&A
Remembering Cormac McCarthy, Part 2
Remembering Cormac McCarthy, Part 1
The Scarlet Letter: Final Chapters
The Scarlet Letter: Chapters 14-19
The Scarlet Letter: Chapters 9-13
The Scarlet Letter: Chapters 4-8
The Scarlet Letter: Customs House - Chapter 3
The Optimist's Daughter: Q&A
The Optimist's Daughter: Parts 3 & 4
The Optimist's Daughter: Parts 1 and 2
The Diary of a Country Priest: Q&A Episode
The Diary of a Country Priest: Chapters 7-8 (Finis)
Diary of a Country Priest: Chapters 5-6
Diary of a Country Priest: Chapters 3-4
The Diary of a Country Priest: Chapters 1-2
Pygmalion: Q&A Episode
Previewing the 2023 Close Reads Bracket
Pygmalion
A Brief Peek into Sean Johnson's Grueling Interview Process
The Netanyahus: Q&A
The Netanyahus: Finis
The Netanyahus: Chapters 5-8
The Netanyahus: Chapters 1-4
Persuasion: Q&A Episode
Persuasion: Finis
Persuasion: Volume 2, Chapters 1-7
Persuasion: Vol. 1, chapters 7-12
Persuasion: Chapters 1-6
Our Favorite Reads of 2022
My Name Is Asher Lev: Q&A Episode
My Name is Asher Lev: Finis
My Name Is Asher Lev: Chapters 6-9
My Name is Asher Lev: Chapters 3-5
My Name Is Asher Lev: Chapters 1-2
A Gentleman in Moscow: Q&A
A Gentleman in Moscow: Finis
The Rings of Power: An exit Survey
A Gentleman in Moscow: Book 4
A Gentleman in Moscow: Pages 248-317
A Gentleman in Moscow: Pages 171-247
A Gentleman in Moscow: Book 2
A Gentleman in Moscow: To the end of Part 1
A Gentleman in Moscow: 1-53
What to Make of "Rings of Power"
Laurus: Q&A
The Great Winnowing: Choosing Books for Close Reads 2023
Laurus: The Final Chapters
Laurus: Pages 237-279
Laurus: Pages 181-237
Laurus: Pages 109-180
Laurus: Pages 53-109
Laurus: Pages 3-53
A Month in the Country: Q&A Episode
Watch Along: Persuasion (2022)
A Month in the Country: To the End
A Month in the Country: Pages 1-68
Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Q&A
Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Final Chapters
Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Chapters 35-44
Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Chapters 31-34
Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Chapters 25-30
Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Chapters 16-24 (aka Phase the Third)
Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Chapters 12-15 (AKA Phase 2)
Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Chapters 6-11
Tess of the D'Urbervilles: Chapters 1-5
A Raisin in the Sun
1984: Q&A
1984: The Final Chapters
1984: Part 2, Chapters 9-10
1984: Part 2, Chapters 1-8
1984: Part 1
As I Lay Dying: Q&A Episode
As I Lay Dying: Episode 4
Bonus Episode: Death on the Nile Movie Discussion
As I Lay Dying: Episode 3
As I Lay Dying: Episode 2
As I Lay Dying: Episode 1
Death on the Nile: Q&A Episode
Death on the Nile: The Final Chapters
Death on the Nile: Chapters 10-20
Death on the Nile: Chapters 1-9
2021 in Books
A Confederacy of Dunces: Q&A Episode
A Confederacy of Dunces: To the End!
A Confederacy of Dunces: Chapters 10-11
A Confederacy of Dunces: Chapters 7-9
A Confederacy of Dunces: Chapters 4-6
A Confederacy of Dunces: Chapters 1-3
A Gathering of Old Men: Q&A Episode
A Gathering of Old Men: To the End
A Gathering of Old Men: 110-167
A Gathering of Old Men: 58-110
A Gathering of Old Men (pages 1-57)
Ask Us Anything Q&A Episode
The Book of the Dun Cow: Q&A Episode
The Book of the Dun Cow: To the End
Bonus Pod: Discussing the 2022 Reading List
The Book of the Dun Cow: Part 2
The Book of the Dun Cow: Part 1
Their Eyes Were Watching God: Q&A Episode
Their Eyes Were Watching God: Conclusion
Their Eyes Were Watching God: Chapters 11-17
Their Eyes Were Watching God: Chapters 6 -10
Their Eyes Were Watching God: Chapters 1-5
All the Pretty Horses Q&A Episode
All the Pretty Horses: Episode 6
All the Pretty Horses: Episode 5
All the Pretty Horses: Episode 4
All the Pretty Horses: Episode 3
All the Pretty Horses: Episode 2
All the Pretty Horses: Pages 1-59
Jane Eyre: Q&A Episode
Jane Eyre: Final Chapters
Jane Eyre: Chapters 28-33
Jane Eyre: Chapters 25-27
Jane Eyre: Chapters 21-24
Jane Eyre: Chapters 17-20
Jane Eyre: Chapters 12-16
Bonus Episode: Discussing the Rebecca Movies
Jane Eyre: Chapters 6-11
Jane Eyre: Chapters 1-5
Rebecca: Q&A Episode
Rebecca: Final Chapters
Rebecca: Chapters 15-19
Rebecca: Chapters 8-14
Rebecca: Chapters 1-7
Death Comes for the Archbishop: Q&A Episode
Death Comes for the Archbishop: Final Chapters
Death Comes for the Archbishop: Books 6 + 7
Death Comes for the Archbishop: Books 4 + 5
Death Comes for the Archbishop: Books 2 + 3
Death Comes for the Archbishop: Book 1
Our 2020 in Reading
The Moviegoer: Q&A Episode
The Moviegoer: Episode 5
The Moviegoer: Episode 4
The Moviegoer: Episode 3
The Moviegoer: Episode 2
The Moviegoer: Episode 1
Home: Q&A Episode
Home: The Final Pages
Home: Pages 250-300
Home: Pages 200-250
Home: Pages 150-200
Home: Pages 100-150
Home: Pages 50-100
Home: Pages 1-50
The Sun Also Rises: Q&A Episode
The Sun Also Rises: The Final Chapters
The Sun Also Rises: Chapters 13-16
The Sun Also Rises: Chapters 8-12
The Sun Also Rises: Book I
Frankenstein: Q&A Episode
Frankenstein: The Final Chapters
Frankenstein: Volume III: Chapters 1-4
Frankenstein: Volume II: Chapters 6-9
Frankenstein: Volume II, chapters 1-5
Frankenstein: Chapters III-VII
Frankenstein: Letter I - Chapter II
The End of the Affair: Q&A Episode
The End of the Affair: Final Chapters
The End of the Affair: Book 4-Book 5.3
The End of the Affair: Book Three
The End of the Affair: Book 2
The End of the Affair: Part One
Anne of Green Gables: Q&A Episode
Anne of Green Gables: Final Chapters
Anne of Green Gables: Chapters 28-32
Anne of Green Gables: Chapters 22-27
Anne of Green Gables: Chapters 17-21
Bonus Episode: Discussing the new movie version of Emma
Anne of Green Gables: Chapters 13-16
Anne of Green Gables: Chapters 7-12
Anne of Green Gables: Chapters 1-6
The Catcher in the Rye: Q&A Episode
The Catcher in the Rye: Final Chapters
The Catcher in the Rye: Chapters 10-17
Bonus Episode: Leif Enger in Conversation
The Catcher in the Rye: Chapters 1-9
Peace Like a River: Q&A Episode
Peace Like a River: The Final Chapters
Peace Like a River: Penultimate Episode
Peace Like a River: Chapters 12-16
Peace Like a River: Chapters 8-11
Peace Like a River: Chapters 5-7
Peace like a River: Chapters 1-4
Our Year in Fiction Reading
A River Runs through It Q&A
A River Runs through It (episode 2)
A River Runs through It (episode 1)
The Rector of Justin Q&A
The Rector of Justin: Final Chapters
The Rector of Justin: Chapters 13-18 .
The Rector of Justin: Chapters 10-12
The Rector of Justin: Chapters 6-9
The Rector of Justin: Chapters 1-5
Bonus Episode: Hemingway's "A Clean Well-lighted Room"
The Odyssey: Q&A Episode
The Odyssey: Final Books
The Odyssey: XXI-XXII
The Odyssey: XIX-XX
The Odyssey: XVII-XVIII
The Odyssey: XII-XVI
The Odyssey: XI-XII
The Odyssey: Books IX-X
The Odyssey: Books V-VIII
The Odyssey: Books III-IV
The Odyssey: Books 1-2
Sense and Sensibility Q&A Episode
Sense & Sensibility: The Final Chapters
Sense & Sensibility: Volume 3, chapters 1-8
Sense & Sensibility: Volume 2, chapters 8-14
Sense & Sensibility: Volume 2, chapters 1-7
Sense & Sensibility: Volume I, chapters 16-22
Sense & Sensibility: Vol. I, chapters 9-15
Sense and Sensibility: Vol. 1, chapters 1-8
Little Britches: Q&A Episode
Little Britches: The Final Chapters
Little Britches: Chapters 22-26
Little Britches: Chapters 17-21
Little Britches: Chapters 11-16
Little Britches 7-10
Little Britches: Chapters 1-6
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: Q&A Episode
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: Conclusion
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: Chapters 13-20
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: Chapters 7-12
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: Chapters 1-6
The Remains of the Day Q&A
The Remains of the Day: Conlusion
Remains of the Day: Day 3 Evening
Remains of the Day: Day 2 Afternoon + Day 3 Morning
Remains of the Day: Day 2, Morning
The Remains of the Day, Prologue and Day 1
The Year in Reading
The Great Gatsby Q&A
The Great Gatsby, Final Chapters
The Great Gatbsy, Chapters 6-7
The Great Gatsby, Chapters 4-5
The Great Gatsby: Chapters 1-3
Bonus Episode: David Joins "The Bookening" to Discuss/Defend Flannery O'Connor
The Power and the Glory Q&A
The Power and the Glory: Final Chapters
The Power and the Glory: Part 2, Chapter 3 - Part 3, Chapter 1
The Power and the Glory: Part 2, Chapters 2-3
The Power and the Glory: Part 2, Chapter 1
The Power and the Glory: Part 1, Chapters 3-4
Crossover Post: Much Ado Nothing Act I | The Play's the Thing
The Power and the Glory: Part 1, Chapters 1-2
Crossing to Safety Q&A
Crossing to Safety: Part 3
Crossing to Safety: Part 2, Chapters 4-5
Crossing to Safety: Part 2, Chapters 1-3
Crossing to Safety, Chapters 11-13
Crossing to Safety, Chapters 7-10
King Lear I.I - The Play's the Thing (premier)
Crossing to Safety, Chapters 5-6
Crossing to Safety, Chapters 1-4
The Lottery
A Rose for Emily
A Jury of Her Peers
Desiree's Baby
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
Rip Van Winkle
The Glass Menagerie Q&A
The Glass Menagerie
Hannah Coulter Q&A
Hannah Coulter: Conclusion
Hannah Coulter, Chapters 8-15
Hannah Coulter, Part 1
The Code of the Woosters, Q&A
The Code of the Woosters, Final Chapters
The Code of the Woosters, Chapters 5-9
The Code of the Woosters, Chapters 1-4
True Grit, Q&A Episode
True Grit, Conclusion
True Grit, Part 6
True Grit, parts 4-5
True Grit, Parts 1-3
Howards End Q&A
Howards End, Chapters 37-44
Howards End, Chapters 31-36
Howards End, Chapters 26-30
Howards End, Chapters 21-25
Howards End, chapters 16-20
Howards End, Chapters 11-15
Howards End: Chapters 6-10
Howards End, Chapters 1-5
Reviewing 2017: The Year in Reading
The Twelfth Night Q&A Episode
Twelfth Night: Act 5
#79: Twelfth Night, Act 4
#78: Twelfth Night ( Act 3)
#77: Twelfth Night (Act 2)
#76: Twelfth Night (Act 1)
#75: Murder on the Orient Express: The Movie
#74: Murder on the Orient Express Q&A
#73: Murder on the Orient Express (part 3)
#72: Murder on the Orient Express (part 2)
#71: Murder on the Orient Express (part 1)
#70: Gilead (ep. 8)
#69: Gilead (ep. 7)
#68: Gilead (ep. 6)
#67: Christine Perrin on Learning to Love Marilynne Robinson
#66: Gilead (ep. 5)
#65: Gilead (ep. 4)
#64: Gilead (ep. 3)
#63: Gilead (ep. 2)
#62: Gilead Kick-off Show
#61: Brideshead Revisited Q&A
#60: Concluding Brideshead Revisited (LIVE EPISODE)
#59: Brideshead Revisited, part 2, chapters 2-3
#58: Brideshead Revisited Chapter 9
#57: Brideshead Revisited chapter 8
Close Reads #56: Brideshead Revisited Chapter 7
#56: Brideshead Revisited Chapter 6
#54: Brideshead Revisited Chapter 5
#53: Brideshead Revisited, Chapters 3-4
#53: Brideshead Revisited Chapters 1-2
#52: Narnia Nostalgia
#51: O'Connor Q&A
#50: Judgement Day
#49: Parker's Back
#48: "Revelation"
#47: The Lame Shall Enter First
#46: The Comforts of Home
#45: The Enduring Chill
#44: Ralph Wood Talks O'Connor
#43: A View of the Woods
#42: Greenleaf
#41: Everything That Rises Must Converge
#40: Murder Must Advertise Q&A
#39: Murder Must Advertise, chapters 17-21
#38: Murder Must Advertise, Chapters 13-16
#37: Murder Must Advertise, Chapters 9-12
#36: Murder Must Advertise, Chapters 5-8
#35: Murder Must Advertise, Chapters 1-4
Close Reads #34: Introducing Murder Must Advertise
Close Reads #33: Recapping a Year in Reading