The Stand
In this episode of Novel Ideas, everybody dies. This week we discuss The Stand by Stephen King, a book about the apocalypse, or at least an apocalypse. And surprisingly, not many people survive the end of the world. In the course of our conversation we get around to most of the characters, many of the events, and some of the significance. Fans of the book will recognize that many details don’t get covered because this book was loooooooooooong. But we hit the highlights, including the demographics of the apocalypse (though Ben’s math is not exactly, you know, correct), the likely pathways of social breakdown, the static nature of characters, and whether the final act is necessary.
The music bump this week is “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult. It is referenced in the book and happens to be a celebration of the fact that everybody dies.
Lord of the Flies
Gabs was out of town this week, so we’re posting one of our test episodes this week. This was recorded months ago, before we started posting, to see if we could actually do this. It turned out well enough to bank it for possible future use, so here it is. Lord of the Flies is, of course, one of the more commonly assigned readings due to its young cast and the overwhelming amount of symbolism. In this episode, we cover the various charming personalities involved, the probable deaths of several young children, and bring you inside on the “Ralph hates girly things” joke that has appeared in other episodes.
There is no music bump this week because none was added when the episode was originally mixed. If you need an intro, just shout “Sucks to your ass-mar!” before you play the file.
The Merchant of Venice, Part 2
Welcome back for part 2 ofThe Merchant of Venice podcast! In this episode, guest star Anthony Funari returns to wrap up the discussion. We cover the stuff we didn’t quite get to in part 1, such as Shylock. He’s just a little bit important. We also discuss whether the fifth act is even necessary, how this play stands out compared to other plays of its time, and give a few suggestions on what other Shakespeare plays you might want to read. We once again set the bar high in broadcast professionalism as this episode was almost titled “Revenge of the Landscapers.” As it turns out, they get upset when you keep them off the air for a few weeks.
Administrative note: There have been a couple of minor changes to the schedule, due primarily toThe Stand being 1,745,122 pages long. Check the schedule page if you want to see what’s really going to happen around here the next couple weeks.
The music bump is once again Mendelssohn’s “Overture to a Midsummer’s Night Dream” for the same reasons as last week, with the additional reason of “we’re too lazy to come up with a new piece of music this week.”
Childhood’s End
Giant spaceships appear in the sky and hover over major cities across the globe! Soon they start wiping out cities and hunting down the beleaguered survivors… or am I getting Childhood’s End confused with “Independence Day?” Turns out that these aliens want to bring unprecedented peace and virtual utopia to the people of Earth. But at what cost? This week, we get away from dystopia and examine utopia. Is it realistic? Is the cost too high? We discuss these issues, along with our usual hot buttoned topical pals, feminism and religion. And for good measure, we throw in a discussion of race because nothing makes people feel more comfortable than a discussion about racial issues. Our new recording studio (aka our “new” recording “studio”) is refreshingly free of sirens, barking dogs, and leafblower engines, but does neighbor a bird who badly wants to be a guest on the podcast.
The music this week is “The Darkest Day” from David Arnold’s soundtrack for “Independence Day,” because that joke really needed to come full circle.
A Wrinkle in Time
This week we talked about Madeline L’Engle’s classic YA fantasy novel A Wrinkle in Time. We got a little carried away this week and forgot to leave our spoiler policy on air, so know that we will spoileverything. If you’re the sort of person who is bothered by this, you might want to go read the book before you click on the link. For those of you brave, stubborn, or just plain different enough to continue, join us as we trip balls with the Murry family and friends. Hear what local ambient noise thinks about the book as dogs, trucks, and leafblowers join the podcast through our very not soundproof studio walls.
The music bump this week is “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and the News because that is the one thing humans have that IT doesn’t.
Dracula
Vampires are hot right now. Sexy, sexy vampires. So this week we decided to talk about Bram Stoker’s Dracula. We’re kicking it old school with the Count and his band of noble adversaries. Check out the podcast where we discuss the diverse and interesting cast of the book, sexism, and a very interesting modern screen adaptation of this frequently movie-ized classic. So strap on your man-brain and prepare to find out how much Dracula sucks. Blood, that is.
This week’s musical selection is “Sortie (Le Vent De l’Espirit)” by the great Olivier Messiaen. It’s a tad anachronistic, but what self respecting, centuries old, avatar of evil doesn’t want some creepy organ music in the background?
The Giver
Do you see things in black and white or do you see shades of gray? Or both. Literally. If you live in the world of The Giver, by Lois Lowry, then you do. Unless you are one of the lucky (Possibly unlucky?) blue-eyed minority who can see beyond. This week’s podcast is a colorful discussion of the world of sameness, brought to you by insightful blue-eyed siblings who have a strangely hard time keeping memories of a book they just finished reading. The professional quality of the broadcast is quite evident this week with special guest appearances from sirens, motorcycles, and the neighbor’s dog.
The music bump this week is “Hey Nineteen” by Steely Dan. If you read the book closely enough, the joke will be apparent. If you have no idea what that means, drop a comment.
Stranger in a Strange Land
To yesterday we are learning about the man from Mars brightly, brightly and with beauty. When the cusp appears, we must grok it and act rightly. The result is this week’s episode, featuring Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, the science fiction classic where everyone learns how to be happy; mostly by having sex with all of their closest friends all the time. Join us as we explore the colorful cast, “Madmen” style sexism, and the idea of free love. We hope this helps you understand a deeper grokking of the book.
This week’s music bump is the “Mars” movement from Gustav Holst’s Symphony of the Planets. Because what else could possibly be more appropriate?
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Novel Ideas 
A Handmaid’s Tale
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Welcome back, book lovers! This week’s episode features A Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, a dystopian future where women are second class citizens. The conversation is a little longer and darker than average as we take turns atop the feminist soapbox. We also attempt to offend the whole world by discussing religion and motherhood. Our high standards of broadcast quality are maintained as a landscaper starts his leafblower and leaves it sitting outside the window. Prepare to be slightly depressed and more than slightly outraged as we explore yet another dystopian future.
The music this week is Rockapella’s arrangement of “Amazing Grace,” because: 1) Rockapella is awesome, 2) Amazing Grace appears in the book, and 3) we find it difficult to take even twenty seconds of Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel.”
A quick administrative note: If you are reading along at home, there is now a schedule link at the top of the page so you can follow us more easily.
07 – A Handmaid’s Tale – Feminism Gets Boned
This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged A Handmaid's Tale, christianity, dystopia, feminism, feminism again, gender politics, horrible room of boredom, landscaping hour, Margaret Atwood, more feminism, religion, social commentary.