Welcome back to the Odyssey! In this episode, Rhea and Shari discuss the host-guest relationships that truly are driving the story forward at this point. They wonder why Odysseus disguises himself rather than just come home and kick everyone out. They discuss the role of fate in the story and why they keep reading if they know how it all turns out in the end. But the thing they talk about the most, is why the heck they don’t like Odysseus, the hero of the story. Is it Wilson’s translation? Or the very definition of “hero” in the classical ancient world that has them confounded?Next week they will discuss the end of the book.Read this post for an update on their reading and writing schedule for May.Thanks for listening to this episode of The Reader & the Writer! If you like this post, hit the ❤️ button and share it with a friend. The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support the literary work we’re doing here, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Reader & the Writer at thereaderandthewriter.substack.com/subscribe
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1:04:39
Odyssey | Part 2
Welcome to Part 2 of R&W’s discussion of The Odyssey.In this episode Rhea and Shari discuss just how complicated of a man Odysseus is. They discuss the real flavor they get of the story being originally told orally, the way it reads much like The Arabian Nights: stories within stories within stories. They also discuss all the spin offs and stories The Odyssey rhymes with and has inspired in the centuries since. They discuss Odysseus’s failure to be a good guest in multiple settings, and the ways he is responsible for his own wanderings, and ways he isn’t. They discuss the Cyclops, Hades and all the crying. Mostly they discuss all the ways this story is offering unexpected things to consider they hadn’t thought much about before. Here is Rhea’s Substack post all about The Odyssey, and our reading schedule:Thanks for listening to The Reader & the Writer! If you like this post, hit the ❤️ button and share it with a friend. The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support the work we’re doing here, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Reader & the Writer at thereaderandthewriter.substack.com/subscribe
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57:29
Odyssey | Part 1
Welcome to our first episode of Homer’s The Odyssey, translated by Emily Wilson. In this episode, Shari and Rhea take a deep dive into the history of The Odyssey and Homer… or is it Homers? They also spend a LOT of time talking about metric verse, how it was originally written in the Greek (dactylic hexameter) and how Wilson translated it into iambic pentameter. We also talk about what the heck all that means. They discuss the opening of the story, Odysseus as a “complicated man” and the importance of hospitality to this entire story.In case you missed one of our last episodes or Substack posts on The Odyssey, here is our reading schedule:Links to resources mentioned in this episode:A Poetry Handbook, by Mary OliverRhea’s Substack post on The Odyssey (with links to other articles and YouTube videos discussed on this episode)Thanks for listening to The Reader & the Writer!If you like this post, hit the ❤️ button and share it with a friend. The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support the work we’re doing here, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Reader & the Writer at thereaderandthewriter.substack.com/subscribe
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1:08:41
War and Peace | Episode 3-March Reading
Welcome to March’s reading of War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy. Things are heating up in 1806 Russia. Rhea and Shari have lots to discuss. They talk about the sad—and predictable—outcome at Austerlitz, Andrei’s injury and the ways it’s changed him… and ways it has not. They discuss Pierre’s sad situation: his bizarre dual with Dolokhov, and this newest way he’s come “under the influence” of a force greater than himself. Of course they talk about Dolokhov and Sonya, Denisov and Natasha, and how some characters seem to be maturing while others are regressing as they age. Finally, they spend time studying the writing in the scene of Natasha singing, looking for ways Tolstoy is telling the story “ekphrastically.”Articles mentioned in this podcast:* Ekphrastic Writing, Ekphrastic Life -Substack article written by Shari* Ekphrastic Practice -Substack article written by ShariKeep up with all R&W’s War and Peace reading on Rhea’s Substack by clicking on her “War & Peace” tab. You will find links to the famous bookmarks on this page as well.Thanks for reading and listening to The Reader & the Writer! If you like this post, hit the ❤️ button and share it with a friend. The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support R&W’s work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Reader & the Writer at thereaderandthewriter.substack.com/subscribe
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1:17:57
Pachinko Bonus: On Screen Adaptations
In this bonus episode of Pachinko, Shari and Rhea share their thoughts—in broad and generous strokes—on Apple TV’s film adaption of Pachinko. In order to not give spoilers, they spend most their time talking about screen adaptations in general, focusing on how trying to compare books to their movie (or TV show) counterparts is really futile, if your purpose is to judge whether one is better than the other. It is, as the cliche goes: like comparing apples to oranges. Both are a medium of storytelling… but that’s about it. Articles referenced in this episode:* Books vs. Movies: Which is Better? (And Why Do We Care?) - From:Dabblewriter.com* On Criticizing an Author’s Vision - Substack essay by ShariR&W’s next deep read is The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson. You will find the reading schedule below:Here is an excellent post by Rhea with loads of resources to get you ready for this epic, ancient read:Thanks for reading and listening to The Reader & the Writer! If you like this post, hit the ❤️ button and share it with a friend.The Reader & the Writer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and podcast episodes straight to your inbox consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Reader & the Writer at thereaderandthewriter.substack.com/subscribe
Our lives, from their beginnings, are storied, and find their fullness when nestled securely within the Great Story; the one that opens, “In the Beginning…” Here on The Reader and the Writer, we delight in and give witness to that Great Story by reading and discussing those excellent works of literature written since. thereaderandthewriter.substack.com
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