CRWM #08: The Bell Jar

For episode eight of Come Read With Me my friend Peter joined me to discuss Sylvia Path’s only novel The Bell Jar. Although his reasons for wanting to read it were questionable, it was an interesting read. Peter does tweet @peteantonellis, but be forewarned it is all politics and The Simpsons.

Aside from Peter’s ridiculous knowledge when it comes to British Naval Fiction, we discuss the reading list of Daria Morgendorffer; blurring the lines between fiction, memoir and autobiography; mental health and institutionalization; New York City and Boston; WTF are bell jars and diving bells?; modern adaptations of classics; manga vs. anime; and a plethora of other random subjects. You know how it works with these podcasts tangents pretty much are the podcast.  I’m embarrassed I couldn’t remember the name Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, I mistakenly called it Dr Strange and Mr. Norrell.

Download it here: CRWM #08 (Right Click and “save as.”) Or, better yet, subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher!

As usual the tangents were plenty and the conversation was excellent. This was the first time I recorded at my new apartment and it worked well. You can hear one of us (let’s blame Peter) moving our mic around a lot and even a siren too. Welcome to Boston right?

Books Mentioned

• Persuasion – Jane Austen
• Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke
• The Horatio Hornblower Series – C.S. Forester (Wikipedia Link )
• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter – Seth Grahame-Smith
• Girl, Interrupted – Susanna Kaysen
• Angels in America – Tony Kushner
• The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt – Edmund Morris
• Theodore Rex – Edmund Morris
• The Aubrey Maturin Series – Patrick O’Brien (Wikipedia link)
• The Ramage Series – Dudley Pope (Wikipedia Link)
• Android Karenina – Leo Tolstoy and Ben Winters
• Belzhar – Meg Wolitzer

I hope you enjoyed the episode and as always let me know if you have any suggestions by emailing podcast@geoffwhaley.com.