HeyJaredThe Reader and the Writer
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…
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 6
- Latest publication
- Sep 22, 2026
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- Earliest in this view
- Jul 7, 2026
Latest episodes
Twenty Thousand Leagues | Part 4 (opens the original)
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Welcome back to Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. In this episode Rhea and Shari have an extensive conversation about the developing, centering conflict framing the narrative; the conflict underneath it; and whether or not these two conflicts can be separate from one another. They discuss the several significant biblical allusions in this section and wonder how these might be informing the ultimate meaning of the story. They admit their late realization as to what “twenty tho
The History of the Island | Part 3 (opens the original)
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Welcome back to A History of the Island ! In this episode, Shari and Rhea discuss the growing cast of characters in the story, and how the French film-makers seem to be playing a larger role in the story; Parfeny’s and Ksenia’s story, in particular. They ask questions about history and reality, who’s telling the story, and who gets to decide? They revisit again the question of the medieval v. the modern ways of looking at history. They talk about the island’s story as an allegory and the ways th
History of the Island | Part 2 (opens the original)
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Welcome back to A History of the Island by Eugene Vodolazkin. In this episode, Shari and Rhea discuss the move of the chronicle from the medieval to the modern eras. They talk about what is lost when the comet is no more seen as a dragon, how beauty and mystery are intricately connected, and whether or not they think Vodolazkin is criticizing modernity’s view of how history ought to be chronicled. They talk about the curious change to the title of the book in the English translation, and what al
A History of the Island | Part 1 (opens the original)
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“The reason for circumstance, says Agafon, is people, not God.” “…long life has convinced me that people themselves create their own circumstances.” —Parfeny (p. 7) Welcome to A History of the Island by Eugene Vodolazkin. In this episode, Rhea and Shari spend a fair amount of time trying to situate themselves in this highly unusual novel where the book itself is also the subject of the story; that is, the chronicle of the Island (that has no name). They talk about wild narrative style of the nov
Middlemarch | Book 6 (opens the original)
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Welcome to Middlemarch , Book Six. It’s hard to believe there’s only two books left! We’re definitely going to make the most of them. In this episode, Shari and Rhea discuss all the unsaid saying that is happening throughout this section, and all the gossip, too. They talk about how Eliot uses these communication gaffs to her narrative power, to develop and reveal characters, and express themes she’s been developing through the story. They talk about the plight and power of women in Middlemarch
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