Save Me From My Shelf - podcast cover

Save Me From My Shelf

Abigail Boucher and Daniel Jenkin-Smithshows.acast.com
We're friends and academics who take classic literature off its pedestal by making fun of it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Episodes

SMFMS Bookends 8: Through the Looking Glass

The eighth episode of SMFMS Bookends , the satellite show for Save Me From My Shelf . Here we read emails, answer listener questions, talk about what we're currently reading, watching, and playing, resuscitate the Bad Sex Awards™, and provide further outtakes and analysis cut from our Through the Looking Glass episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 07, 202437 minSeason 5Ep. 57

Episode 57b - Through the Looking Glass

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In the second part of our fifty-seventh episode, we recap Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass (1871) and discuss rare spatial reasoning issues, Abby's peasant background (which includes tunnel-corn), famous egg-men, and if a single move in chess is measured in speed or mobility. Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode Theme: Camille Saint-Saens, The Carnival of the Animals , '10 Voliere', played backwards. Hosted on...

Jul 31, 202458 minSeason 5Ep. 57

SMFMS Bookends 7: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

The seventh episode of SMFMS Bookends , the satellite show for Save Me From My Shelf . Here we read emails, answer listener questions, talk about what we're currently reading, watching, and playing, resuscitate the Bad Sex Awards™, and provide further outtakes and analysis cut from our Alice's Adventures in Wonderland episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 24, 202431 minSeason 5Ep. 57

Episode 57a - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In the first part of our fifty-seventh episode, we regress to childhood and look at Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865). We examine Lewis Carroll's sexual vs. artistic motives, take our first dive into nonsense literature, and celebrate confectionary, being mean to children, and Alice's criminal escalations. Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode Theme: Camille Saint-Saens, The Carnival of the Animals , '10 Voliere'....

Jul 17, 20241 hr 8 minSeason 5Ep. 57

SMFMS Bookends 6 - A Midsummer Night's Dream

The sixth episode of SMFMS Bookends , the satellite show for Save Me From My Shelf . Here we read emails, answer listener questions, talk about what we're currently reading, watching, and playing, resuscitate the Bad Sex Awards™, and provide further outtakes and analysis cut from our Midsummer Night's Dream episode. You can hear us on an episode of Carl Sweeney's The Movie Palace here, in the last 5-10 minutes of the show, where we recommend our favourite pre-'70s film: https://podcasts.apple.co...

Jun 19, 202434 minSeason 5Ep. 56

Episode 56 - A Midsummer Night's Dream

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our fifty-sixth episode, we celebrate midsummer with Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (1605). We make a lot of (obvious) jokes about asses, Amazon, and fairy kink (despite not reading THE fairy kink book). Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode Theme: Felix Mendelssohn, A Midsummer Night's Dream 'Op 61' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 12, 20241 hr 8 minSeason 5Ep. 56

SMFMS Bookends 5 - The Grapes of Wrath

The fifth episode of SMFMS Bookends , the satellite show for Save Me From My Shelf . Here we read emails, answer listener questions, talk about what we're currently reading, watching, and playing, resuscitate the Bad Sex Awards™, and provide further outtakes and analysis cut from The Grapes of Wrath episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 22, 202432 minSeason 5Ep. 55

Episode 55 - The Grapes of Wrath

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our fifty-fifth episode, we recap John Steinbeck's 1939 Dust Bowl adventure, Biblical allegory, and socialist manifesto, The Grapes of Wrath . It's all pigs, sex, and pooping (a shocking amount of pooping). We discover the show's second mono-butt-cheeked character, Abby develops a backup plan for a life of crime, and Daniel goes on a rant about topsoil. Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode Theme: 'Woody' on guitar a...

May 15, 20241 hr 16 minSeason 5Ep. 55

SMFMS Bookends 4: The Time Machine

The forth episode of SMFMS Bookends , the satellite show for Save Me From My Shelf . Here we read emails, answer listener questions, talk about what we're currently reading, watching, and playing, resuscitate the Bad Sex Awards™, and provide further outtakes and analysis cut from The Time Machine episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 24, 202442 minSeason 5Ep. 54

Episode 54 - The Time Machine

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our last episode, we went into the past. Now, in our fifty-fourth episode, we go way, way into the future with H.G. Wells's The Time Machine (1895). We workshop Save Me From My Shelf: On Ice! , turn into feral, biting Morlocks, and wonder what the hell is going on with time travel romances, both generally and in the Year of Our Lord BOOBIES. Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode Theme: 'Gnossienne No. 1', Erik Satie....

Apr 17, 20241 hr 12 minSeason 5Ep. 54

SMFMS Bookends 3: Ivanhoe

The third episode of SMFMS Bookends , the satellite show for Save Me From My Shelf . Here we read emails, answer listener questions, talk about what we're currently reading, watching, and playing, resuscitate the Bad Sex Awards™, and provide further outtakes and analysis cut from the Ivanhoe episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 20, 202429 minSeason 5Ep. 53

Episode 53 - Ivanhoe

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our fifty-third episode, we cover the first proper Historical Novel™, Sir Walter Scott's extremely boring, Ren Faire-style medieval romp, Ivanhoe (1819). In this episode, Abby gets ghosted by her best friend and medieval scholar, Justine. Scott talks about nothing but clothing, pork, and boobs, and Daniel enjoys (?) all the invented names, the porn parody that would write itself, and all the tournaments which are...

Mar 13, 20241 hr 19 minSeason 5Ep. 53

SMFMS Bookends 2: Rebecca

The second episode of SMFMS Bookends , the satellite show for Save Me From My Shelf . Here we read emails, answer listener questions, talk about what we're currently reading, watching, and playing, and provide further outtakes and analysis cut from the Rebecca episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 21, 202432 minSeason 5Ep. 52

Episode 52 - Rebecca

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our fifty-second episode, Valentine's Day Special, AND Ash Wednesday spectacular, we look at Daphne Du Maurier's Cornish Gothic romance-tragedy-thriller, which is also a courtroom drama, police procedural, ghost story, and psychosexual horror. Daniel sings Edith Piaf, Abby references Nick at Nite shows, and we have the return of a great breakfast spread (separate from all the pilchard chat). Cover art © Catherine...

Feb 14, 20241 hr 20 minSeason 5Ep. 52

SMFMS Bookends 1: The Scarlet Letter

Abby and Daniel launch their first episode of SMFMS Bookends , the satellite show for Save Me From My Shelf . Here we read emails, answer listener questions, talk about what we're currently reading, watching, and playing, and provide further outtakes and analysis cut from the Scarlet Letter episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 24, 202429 minSeason 5Ep. 51

Episode 51 - The Scarlet Letter

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our Season 5 opener and fifty-first episode, we return to Puritanical, repressed New England with Nathaniel Hawthorne's experimental, philosophical musing about adultery, guilt, religion, and haute couture, The Scarlet Letter (1850). Daniel debuts some strange accents and discusses his previous theatrical career. We also learn that sex is like pancakes: the first go is a write-off. Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episo...

Jan 17, 20241 hr 14 minSeason 5Ep. 51

End-Of-Year-Special 2023

In Save Me From My Shelf 's end-of-year wrap up for 2023, Abby and Daniel read listener letters, respond to audience questions, correct any Season 4 mistakes, and have a general retrospective on the past year on the podcast. Abby also reveals her tradition of Dark Christmas, Daniel is an unprepared boring bastard, and wee Donalbain makes a guest appearance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 31, 202357 min

Episode 50 - Paradise Lost

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our fiftieth episode and (anti-)Christmas special, we go into John Milton's Puritanical vision of the Fall of Man, Paradise Lost (1667) ... where Milton may just be of Satan's party. It's a world where God is both a mall security guard and the leader of a sex cult, and neither role explains his mysterious ways. Daniel discovers the word, 'Ayyyoooo!', Abby reminisces about '90s pop culture, and both of them hate M...

Dec 20, 20231 hr 25 minSeason 4Ep. 50

Episode 49 - Ethan Frome

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our forty-ninth episode, we cover Edith Wharton's wintry New England romantic tragedy, Ethan Frome (1911). Abby goes to therapy live on the show, while Daniel obsesses over pickles and learns all about New England traditions (how maple syrup is made, sugar on snow, apple cider doughnuts). The hosts also both reveal that they are secretly lawyers. Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode Theme: Swan Hennessy, 'Adagio: St...

Dec 06, 20231 hr 11 minSeason 4Ep. 49

Episode 48 - Macbeth

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our forty-eighth episode, we tell the tale of ambition, revenge, murder, Irn-Bru, bad accents, respeck, balls, breastmilk, and other people's awesome tweets in William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' (1606). Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode Themes: 'I Vow to Thee, My Country' (Wikimedia Commons); 'Moorland' (Kevin MacLeod). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Nov 22, 20231 hr 21 minSeason 4Ep. 48

Episode 47b - Poe Anthology, Part Two

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In the second part of our forty-seventh episode, we continue our recap of the short works of Edgar Allan Poe (1830s-40s): 'The Pit and the Pendulum', 'The Cask of Amontillado', 'The Black Cat', and 'The Raven'. Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode Theme: Camille Saint-Saëns, 'Danse Macabre' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Nov 08, 20231 hr 5 minSeason 4Ep. 47

Episode 47a - Poe Anthology, Part One

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our forty-seven and big Halloween episode, we host our first anthology: the short works of Edgar Allan Poe (1830s-40s). In the first half of this anthology, we cover 'The Tell-Tale Heart', 'The Fall of the House of Usher', and 'The Masque of the Red Death'. We also hear a lot about our hosts' Halloween costumes, lots about asses, Abby's own disappointing masquerade experience, and Daniel's most uptight accent yet...

Oct 25, 202358 minSeason 4Ep. 47

Episode 46 - The Stepford Wives

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our forty-sixth episode--Ira Levin's The Stepford Wives (1972)--we move to the suburbs, eat a lot of Lobster Newburg, and watch nothing but Air Bud. Daniel also reveals his secret feminist tattoo, Abby puts out a dating advert, and we get a quick look-in from a legendary feminist: Grendel's Mother. Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode Theme: John Philip Sousa, 'Thunderer March' - arranged by 'Free Tim'. Hosted on Ac...

Oct 11, 20231 hr 19 minSeason 4Ep. 46

Episode 45 - The Trial

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our forty-fifth episode, we delve into a world of cartoon references, James Bond-level panty dropping, questions for the BDSM community, and beards. Too many beards. It's Franz Kafka's 1925 paranoid, sadomasochistic dystopia, The Trial ! Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode Theme: Alban Berg, '4 Stucke, Op. 5', performed by Steven Beck. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 27, 20231 hr 16 minSeason 4Ep. 45

Bonus Content - Q&A with Abby and Daniel

Daniel and Abby answer listener questions about how they make the podcast, the best literary decades, overrated authors, giant ducks, and when to throw a drink in your mother-in-law's face (always). Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode themes: Mozart's 'Overture' to Don Giovanni . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 13, 202345 minSeason 4Ep. 44

Episode 44 - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our forty-fourth episode, we look at Mark Twain's satire on systematic racism and childhood trauma, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884). It's full of bad southern accents, men painted weird colours, identity theft, and bounty (both financial and chocolate). We also learn that Abby is from Grade-A dirtbag stock, and that Daniel has clinical depression. Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode Theme: 'Riffs on Tara'...

Aug 30, 20231 hr 23 minSeason 4Ep. 44

Episode 43 - The Epic of Gilgamesh

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our forty-third episode, we go back to ancient epics and probably the earliest text we can cover on this show: the Epic of Gilgamesh (circa 2100-1200 BC). In this episode, Daniel finds religion, Abby repents her punning ways, we see a glorious return of MeasuringWorth, and our hosts make way for the real star of the show: semi-standardised cubits. Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode Themes: Bach, 'Cello Suite No. 1...

Aug 16, 20231 hr 8 minSeason 4Ep. 43

Episode 42 - The Monk

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In our forty-second episode, we get dark and dirty with Matthew Lewis's 1796 'Male Gothic' masterpiece, The Monk . Abby shows off her Bible learnin', Daniel speaks (and slurps) in tongues, and both of them scream forever into the void. Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode Theme: Hector Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique, op. 14-5. 'Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat' (Igor Markevitch, Orchestre Lamoureux, 1962) Hosted on Acast. Se...

Aug 02, 20231 hr 21 minSeason 4Ep. 42

Bonus Content - Tiresias Minisode

Daniel's homework on the blind prophet Tiresias got cut from our episode on Homer's The Odyssey, Part One. Please find the segment resuscitated here, for all your Greek mythology needs. Cover art © Catherine Wu. Episode themes: Mozart's 'Overture' to Don Giovanni . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 19, 20235 minSeason 4Ep. 41

Episode 41b - The Odyssey, Part Two

Two friends and academics recap classic literature and take it off its pedestal. In the second half of our forty-first episode, we cover the last twelve books of Homer's The Odyssey (circa 800 BC). It's a delicious world, full of roast goat stomach, pig spine, and onion-peel cloaks. It's a sexy world, with plenty of Groundskeeper Willy nudity. It's an emotional world, full of crying naps and rage murder. And above all, it's a man's world, with some of the strongest misogyny we've seen so far. Co...

Jul 05, 20231 hrSeason 4Ep. 41
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