This week David, Tim, and Heidi discuss which characters are most villainous in Ernest Gaines' novel, and dig in to the narrative and dramatic effect of leaving the gathering of old men right in the middle of the story.

A Gathering of Old Men: 110-167

In which we discuss Poirot's decision, Christie's puzzle-making, and Tim is insufferable (and gets muted for it). And much more, of course.

Death on the Nile: The Final Chapters

In which Tim predicts the ending of another mystery novel.

Death on the Nile: Chapters 10-20

It's time for a new book! It's time for the Queen of Crime. It's time for Hercule Poirot. It's time for some international intrigue. It's time for Death on the Nile! This week we talk about what makes Christie so good (and enduring), her approach to introducing characters in this book, and much more.

Death on the Nile: Chapters 1-9

It's time for an annual tradition! On this week's episode we're talking about our favorite reads of 2021. We each used different criteria in creating the lists you will hear here, but its a great peek into our reading lives this year.

2021 in Books

It's time to answer your questions about A Confederacy of Dunces! Join the David, Heidi, and Tim as they discuss characters like Jones and Levy, books similar to Dunces, and much more -- plus, naturally, some Christmas chatter.

A Confederacy of Dunces: Q&A Episode

Once more we've come to the end of another book's road. So join David, Tim, and Heidi as they unpack the wild and wacky and strange ending of A Confederacy of Dunces.

A Confederacy of Dunces: To the End!

What is the purpose of all of Ignatius' grossness? Does it have anything to do with the four humors in medieval thought? What does Ignatius actually? Close Reads considers these questions on this week's show.

A Confederacy of Dunces: Chapters 10-11

Here we are, deep inside of John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces, and this week conversation touches (once again) on Ignatius' intelligence, but then moves on to the various secondary characters that people this strange book, as well as talk about Boethius.

A Confederacy of Dunces: Chapters 7-9

Join David, Heidi, and Tim as they continue to discuss Ignatius J. Reilly and his "worldview," including some discussion about why he has to be quite so gross. Also: what's the deal with all the geometry talk?

A Confederacy of Dunces: Chapters 4-6

A Podcast for the Incurable Reader

Close Reads is a book-club podcast for the incurable reader. Hosted by David Kern and featuring Tim McIntosh and Heidi White, alongside a couple of other occasional guests, we read Great Books and talk about them. This is a show for amateurs in the best sense. We’re book lovers, book enthusiasts. This is not an experts show and it’s barely literary analysis in the way that literary analysis is commonly understood. Instead it’s a show about experiences with literary urge. Join us! Close Reads is presented by Goldberry Studios. A NOTE ABOUT OLDER EPISODES: <a href="https://feed.pippa.io/public/shows/5a8c87b47780d3580eaacd1e" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Since most podcast apps don't go further back than 100 episodes, you'll need to click here to listen to anything further back than that. </a> And our first 32 episodes <a href="https://feed.pippa.io/public/shows/5a8c994306c9cec7297078b9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">can be found here</a>, on the original CiRCE Institute feed.

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A Gathering of Old Men: 110-167

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2021 in Books