The Reader and the Writer

Welcome to our first episode of Beloved, by Toni Morrison. In this episode, Shari and Rhea introduce their four week reading of this powerful novel by way of poetry. Rhea discusses how poetry has helped her digest the intensity of the narrative by reading poetry along the way. They talked about Morrison as a writer, her beliefs about fiction, narrative, and the participatory compact she makes with the reader. Rhea explains how her regular process for reading has drastically adjusted with reading this novel, and why this new approach feels like the right one for now. They discuss memory as a narrative device: how memory functions in Beloved, how it is the subject matter within the story, now it is guiding the story’s structure, how it is a theme, and how Morrison is using memory as a theme to explore other big ideas. And they talk about memory as it relates to language: how language and memory both reside in our bodies, how this shows up in the characters, and what it means for us as readers moving forward into Morrison’s world of Beloved.
Show Notes:
* Toni Morrison essay: “Memory, Creation, and Writing”
* The Source of Self Regard
* African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle and Song
If you’d like to go deeper into this week’s reading, or want some help as you discuss Beloved with a friend or reading group, here is a PDF of this episode’s outline and detailed book notes.
Finally, look for Rhea’s Beloved Reading Guide to drop soon!
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Most happy she that most assured doth rest, But he most happy who such ones love best
—Spenser (from epigraph in ch 37)

Welcome back to our year(ish) long read, Middlemarch, by George Eliot. In this episode, Shari and Rhea discuss all the ways Book Four feels pivotal; the story lines begin to really boil in “Three Love Problems,” and there is no shortage of curiosities to go with it. First, they talk of reform in this section, and all the ways the greater idea of “reform” webs itself into the story’s greater themes. They discuss the “three love problems”: who exactly does Eliot want us to think of here? They talk about the “gossamer web” of young love-making, and wonder why Eliot applies it to Lydgate and Rosamond and not, say, Dorthea and Casaubon, or Dorthea and Will? Rhea recognizes the possible significance in the repeated mention of the “pale stag” (once in Ch 9, and then again in Ch 37). Shari wonders if the Bulstrodes really give a rip about Rosamond marrying Lydgate, or if their “caring” has a more selfish motive at heart. Finally, they do a “lightning” round (more like a slow thunder rumble), asking each other those burning questions they have moving forward.
What about you? Any questions or predictions for what will happen next?
If you haven’t already, go to the R&W Middlemarch page and download Rhea’s next set of bookmarks! Scroll down to find them.
Finally, for your continued deeper dive into Middlemarch’s Book Four, or use in a book group, homeschool study, and all purposes in-between, here is a PDF of our Book Four outline:
Thanks for this episode of The Reader & the Writer! If you liked this episode, ❤️ it and share it with others.

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Welcome to our final episode on Anne of Green Gables! In this episode, Shari and Rhea discuss the Scripture in these last chapters, hidden in plain sight. They talk about how this Great Conversation serve the narrative turn of the novel toward its fullness: in Anne’s character, and as a human being into wholeness. They talk about the way ambition seems to be the theme-thread running strong through this last section of the story, in the same way imagination, goodness, and romance occupy important roles in other sections of the story. They talk a long time about the role nature plays through all of Anne of Green Gables, and the fundamental role it’s meant to play in our own lives. They talk about the role of imagination in faith, hope, and love, desires, duty, and knowing our place as sons and daughters, not orphans or slaves.
Finally, we ended with two questions we invite you to consider and contemplate over the next several days:
* In this season of life, what is Anne inviting you to see? To believe?
* How then will you live?
As a bonus to celebrate R&W’s reading of Anne of Green Gables, we’re attaching this episode’s outline for your personal use, whether to spend more time with Anne on your own, or in your book club, homeschool group, and more. Later this year, The Reader & Writer will be sharing our episode outlines regularly for all our paid subscribers. But for now, it’s free. :)
Our next read is Beloved, by Toni Morrison. Our first episode will air the last week of May. In the intervening weeks, look for some bonus episodes on all things literary, great and small alike.
Thanks for listening to this episode of The Reader & the Writer! If you liked this post, give it some ❤️ and share it with others.

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Welcome back to Anne of Green Gables. In this episode, Shari and Rhea discuss the narrative shape that this story is taking in ways that are different than the traditional story arc structure. They talk extensively about goodness, Anne’s ideas of it, the ways her ideas are limiting and how much of the community seems to help foster those limits. They discuss goodness as in ideal versus goodness as a human charecteristic—how each is different and where the overlap occurs. This naturally leads to a discussion of beauty, truth, and goodness: how each one informs, strengthens and adds to the overflow of the others. And, they talk about how, for all Anne’s wild imaginations, her ability to imagine herself being vulnerable to the “other”—particularly Gilbert Blythe—is woefully stunted, or more likely, blocked by her fears.
Be sure to check out Rhea’s reading guide for Anne of Green Gables:
Also, please tell us how you’ve been inspired by Anne of Green Gables to stretch your imagination and find new ways to play!
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“Dear me, it’s only been three weeks since she came, and it seems as if she’d been here always. I can’t imagine the place without her.” —Marilla

Welcome back to Anne of Green Gables. In this episode, Shari and Rhea spend time discussing our narrator: When does she pop out from behind the book to talk to us? What effect does this have on our experience of the story? Our feelings about the characters? They also talk more about the imagination, and how critical it is to develop our imaginations, especially as it relates to the life of faith. They talk about romance, not the “kiss, kiss” kind, but rather romance in the grander sense. Finally, they ask whether or not Anne’s extreme emotion, imagination, and romance are hyperbole if it truly is Anne bringing all that is in her to bear in every joy and despair, with no real in-between’s.
Rhea’s amazing Anne of Green Gables Reading Guide is available! You can find it here:
Thanks for listening to this episode of The Reader & the Writer! If you like this post, please ❤️ it and pass it along.

The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our literary work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.



Get full access to The Reader & the Writer at thereaderandthewriter.substack.com/subscribe