Episode 32: Julie Schumacher and Her Novel in Letters . . . of Recommendation!

What?!  American academia ripe for satire and humor?  Listen in as Julie Schumacher joins John and Marc for a discussion of her novel, Dear Committee Members, offered in letters of recommendation by beleaguered English Professor Jason Fitzger.  How beleaguered, you ask?  He's so beleaguered he makes Marc and John look fastidious!

But before that, John and Marc will discuss the "Alt Lit" scene in much the same intonation as their parents dismissed "Gorbachev" and their grandparents referenced "Rock-N-Roll," and they'll try to figure out Haruki Murakami's writing like a spatially challenged child (Insert:  John and Marc as children) trying to figure out a Rubik's Cube, but hopefully without the tantrums and flying objects.

Then, just try to call us and stump us with a question about books.  Just try it!

Author Ted Thompson (Not the GM of the G.B. Packers): Episode 31!

Join Marc and John this Tuesday with guest author Ted Thompson, author of The Land of Steady Habits and salon.com contributor and NOT the General Manager of the Green Bay Packers.  (It'll be interesting to see his sales numbers in Wisconsin, however.)

Marc and John will also make the argument that books SHOULD be banned;  we're just choosing the wrongs ones.  (Wink, pause . . . wink again.)  Then listen as Marc offers his fancy schmancy theoritalization on Kiese Laymon's Long Division and postmodernism overall while John "oohs" and "ahs" and "ah-huhs" while pretending he understands what the heck Marc is talking about.

Podcast and sense of euphoria to follow . . .

Joshua Ferris podcast, Joanna Rakoff LIVE!

Episode 2 of Season 3 is up in our archive.  Listen as Marc and John talk with Man Booker Finalist Joshua Ferris about his novel To Rise Again at a Decent Hour, literary humor, technology and religion (whew!).  Your hosts also discuss the Future Library Project and the writing of Herman Koch (pronounced like the carbonated, sugary beverage . . . just to clarify).

Episode 3 features My Salinger Year author Joanna Rakoff!  Listen live (with the podcast to follow) as Marc and John also discuss The National Book Award longlists and the confessional memoir.

Or don't.  What do we care?  Actually we care a great deal.  We mean it.  Just listen and you'll see!

Steve Almond is Everywhere! / Joshua Ferris Favored (By Us) to Win the Man Booker!

Episode 1 of Season 3 is up in our archive!  There you can listen to the incredible Steve Almond comment on his book, Against Football, at least when he's not housing the opposition on CNN.  Listen as we also discuss our fall book preview and the work of Andre Dubus III, and as my father praises Almond's book while pledging to remain on his couch on Sundays.

Next up:  MAN BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST, JOSHUA FERRIS!  PARDON US BUT OUR KEYBOARD AND VOICES ARE STUCK IN CAPS!!!

Season 3 of our Award-Winning Show and Podcast!

Marc and John are back for Season 3 of Read First, Ask Later, winner of the Read First, Ask Later Award for Best Radio Show and Podcast titled Read First, Ask Later!  Upcoming guests include author of Against Football and about a billion other publications, Steve Almond (9/9);   Booker Prize finalist and author of To Rise Again at a Decent Hour, Joshua Ferris (9/16);  My Salinger Year author, Joanna Rakoff (9/23);  author of The Land of Steady Habits and Salon.com contributor, Ted Thompson (9/30);   and Pen / Faulkner award winner and author of The Dog, Joseph O'Neill (10/7).

(Don't ask how we do it.  We think maybe they think they're getting paid.)

Listen in as we also discuss literary book news and what we're reading.  And we'll eagerly await phone calls from YOU, the remaining humble readers and listeners left in the universe, from 4:15 to 4:30 on Tuesday afternoons.

We can't wait!  Oh nevermind, it's time.

Summer Break!

We won't be broadcasting this summer (sniffle, sniffle, sob) but that doesn't mean we're avoiding books . . . or you! Marc and I simply can't talk right now since we're buried in our summer reading! And remember, you can catch up on all of our first and second seasons at the link above. We'll resume the show weekly at the end of August or beginning of September. So get your reading in now, and ask us about it later!

Season's Finales with Chad Harbach (26) and George Saunders (27)!

Listen (Right Now!) to our final episodes of Season 2, in which we discuss book accumulation and the passing of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and speak directly to the actual human voice of Chad Harbach, author of The Art of Fielding, editor of the essay collection MFA v. NYC, and founding editor of n+1 (Episode 26) . . . and our summer preview of events and book releases, along with our discussion with a man who we believe to be the actual George Saunders! (Episode 27). Or . . . if you're just catching up with us, we recommend 27 hours straight of listening. No performance-enhancement necessary; the show IS an upper. Stay in touch with us over the summer as we post what we're reading and reassess this here blog and how it may become central to your existence. Happy summer, listeners and viewers. You too are part of the Read First, Ask Later family.