Book Blurbs

In this episode, Kenneth and a returning friend of the podcast ponder how important art and culture are to the survival of humanity in a world that has been forever changed by a pandemic. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Maybe a little too close to real life...

Did you like the Station Eleven book or show more? Let me know by sending me an email at bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

In this special episode, Kenneth is joined by two guests to discuss their spoiler-filled thoughts on the Where the Crawdads Sing movie.

How many times have you seen the movie adaptation of Where the Crawdads Sing? Do you think it was mostly faithful to the book? Let me know by sending me an email at bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

In this episode, Kenneth explores Colson Whitehead's conception of the Underground Railroad, in which it's no mere metaphor, but rather a literal railroad system with engineers and conductors who operate a secret network of tracks and tunnels.

Which state that Cora stopped in captivated your attention the most in this book? Have you watched The Underground Railroad television series? Let me know by sending me an email at bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

In this episode, Kenneth tries to make sense of what is going on at Manor Farm, and the animals there don't seem to take too kindly to humans for some reason...

Who is your favorite character in Animal Farm? Let me know who it is and why by sending me an email at bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

In this bonus episode, Kenneth and a special returning guest give their spoiler-filled thoughts on Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.

What are you most excited for and most nervous about for the film adaptation of Where the Crawdads Sing? Let me know by sending me an email at bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

In this special bonus segment, Kenneth and Alex compare and contrast Dune and Star Wars.

Which property do you prefer more: Star Wars or Dune? Let me know by sending me an email at bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on  social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at  https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

Follow Alex on Twitter @maxsonyte.

In this episode, Kenneth and a special returning guest explore the spice-filled sands of the desert planet Arrakis to uncover the legend of Muad'Dib.

Which film adaptation of Dune is your favorite? Let me know by sending me an email at bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

Follow this episode's guest on Twitter @maxsonyte.

In this episode, Kenneth and a special returning guest take flight and accompany Milkman Dead on an odyssey that could very well be the classic myth of our generation.

Who is your favorite character in Song of Solomon? Let me know who it is and why by sending me an email at bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

In this episode, the "Crew of Light" recruits Kenneth to help them hunt down the most notorious vampire of all time, Dracula. Will the modern technology of the time give them enough of an advantage over Dracula to outsmart him and take him down once and for all?

It's the classic question. Which book do you prefer: Dracula or Frankenstein? Let me know by emailing bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

In this episode, a senior devil's letters to a junior devil unintentionally offer Kenneth some sound spiritual advice. 

What is your favorite book by C.S. Lewis? Let me know by emailing bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

For the finale of the string of Kurt Vonnegut episodes, Kenneth gets unstuck in time with what may be the author's most famous novel, Slaughterhouse-Five or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death. What should readers make of Billy Pilgrim's encounter with the toilet plunger aliens, the Tralfamadorians? What does Vonnegut have to say about the nature of war? Do you agree with the book's "so it goes" philosophy?

Let me know by emailing bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

In this double-header episode, Kenneth is joined by a couple of guests to discuss the uncertainties that come with starting a new job and if there's really such a thing as true equality.

Which of these two short stories did you enjoy more? Did you have to read "Harrison Bergeron in high school? Let me know by emailing bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

In this double-header episode, Kenneth and returning guest Alex examine the consequences of overpopulation and its converse, strict population control, as presented in two of Kurt Vonnegut's short stories.

Which setting would you prefer to live in? "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" or "2 B R 0 2 B?" Let me know by emailing bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

In this double-header episode, Kenneth and a special guest ponder the humanity of artificial intelligence and talk strategy in an especially cruel, inhumane game of chess.

Have you read Kurt Vonnegut before? What's your favorite story he's written? Let me know by emailing bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

Happy Halloween! In this episode, Kenneth and returning guest Mason take a deep dive into Edgar Allan Poe's violent, horrifying short story "The Black Cat." Cat lovers, you have been warned.

What's your favorite Edgar Allan Poe short story or poem? Let me know and share your thoughts on "The Black Cat" by emailing bookblurbs19@gmail.com or posting on the show's social media sites at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

In this episode, Kenneth and a special guest try to come to terms with what appears to be an ordinary commute home from work that may end up being something much more sinister.

What do you think? Is Mr. Beresford paranoid? Send your thoughts to bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

*Correction: The Narnia quote mentioned in this episode actually comes from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, not Prince Caspian.

In this episode, Kenneth tries to get to the bottom of the mysterious poisoning of the Blackwood family.

Mary Katherine Blackwood has a pet cat named Jonas, and he's pretty awesome—kind of fits with the whole Halloween witch vibe we've got going with Shirley Jackson. Do you have a favorite pet from a book you've read? Had you heard of We Have Always Lived in the Castle before this? Let me know by emailing bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

In this episode, Kenneth finds himself trapped in one of the most iconic haunted houses in all of literature. Will he survive the terrors of Hill House and escape with his sanity intact? 

Have you read any Shirley Jackson before? Who is your favorite horror author? What is the scariest story you have ever read? Which book really gets you into the Halloween spirit? Let me know by emailing bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19. You can also leave a voice message at https://anchor.fm/bookblurbs.

In this episode, Kenneth ventures into a galaxy far, far away with Claudia Gray's Star Wars: Master & Apprentice. In the first novel in the Disney canon to take place before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, readers follow Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi as they undertake an important mission on a new planet. Will Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's fragile bond crack beyond repair when they come up against the threats awaiting them? Packed with prophecies, political intrigue, glimpses of a certain character's descent to the dark side, and some amazing new side characters, Claudia Gray seems to have another winner on her hands, but does Kenneth think this novel is bookshelf-worthy? Tune in to find out!

What is your favorite Star Wars book of all time? It can be from legends or the new canon. Let me know by emailing bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show  on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19.

In the show's very first episode, Kenneth dives into the Book of Sirach, one of the Wisdom Books from the Old Testament of the Bible.

Have you read the Book of Sirach? What were your takeaways from it? If you haven't read it yet, what is one of your favorite books of the Bible? Let me know by emailing bookblurbs19@gmail.com or follow the show on social media at https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbs19 or https://twitter.com/bookblurbs19.