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Spine Crackers

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Spine Crackers is an in-depth literary analysis podcast where we discuss a different book every other week, with some jokes and goofs tossed in for good measure. Follow us on instagram, twitter, facebook, etc. and check out our patreon! We post our next read on twitter so you can keep up and read along with us if you like. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spinecrackers https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers spinecrackerspod@gmail.com
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Episodes

Lauren Groff - Matrix

In this episode, the Spine Crackers read American author Lauren Groff's 2021 historical novel of belief, sex, class, gender, mysticism and more, Matrix. Full episode available on Patreon as always! https://www.patreon.com/c/spinecrackers

Apr 06, 20251 hr 21 min

Percival Everett - Telephone

In this episode the Spine Crackers discuss Percival Everett's 2020 novel of grief, loss, human connection, and agency in the face of a seemingly random and uncaring universe, Telephone. Full episode on Patreon as always! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

Feb 23, 20251 hr 27 min

Robert M. Coates - The Eater of Darkness

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss American author and critic Robert M. Coates' 1926 experimental, pseudo-Dada, proto-sci-fi, heist(?) novel The Eater of Darkness! Full episode on Patreon as always! https://www.patreon.com/c/spinecrackers

Dec 31, 20241 hr 9 min

Susan Choi - Trust Exercise

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Susan Choi's 2019 National Book Award winning novel of trauma, memory, and the nature of storytelling, Trust Exercise! Full episode available on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/spinecrackers

Nov 12, 20241 hr 17 min

Italo Calvino - The Baron in the Trees

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss postmodern master Italo Calvino's 1957 historical-fantasy-bildungsroman-fable-novel The Baron in the Trees. Full episode available at https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

Sep 26, 20241 hr 21 min

William Golding - The Paper Men

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss English author William Golding's (of Lord of the Flies high school fame) first post-Nobel Prize novel of art, fame, and obsession The Paper Men (1984). Full episode on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

Aug 31, 20241 hr 11 min

Gerald Murnane - The Plains

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Australian master Gerald Murnane's 1982 breakout novel of place, country, and the nature of representation The Plains! Full episode on the Spine Crackers Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

Jul 24, 20241 hr 14 min

Djuna Barnes - Nightwood

In this episode the Spine Crackers discuss Djuna Barnes' pioneering 1936 novel of queer modernism, identity, and history, Nightwood. Full episode available at https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

May 15, 20241 hr 17 min

Bernard Malamud - The Natural (feat. Nate of Books You Haven't Read)

In this episode, the Spine Crackers are joined by friend of the show Nate, who is the proprietor of the excellent Books You Haven't Read Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@BooksYouHaventRead) to discuss American author Bernard Malamud's 1952 debut novel The Natural.

Mar 15, 20241 hr 34 min

Nicholson Baker - Vox

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss American author and literary one-of-a-kind Nicholson Baker's Vox (1992), an erotic study of character, technology, human connection, and fantasy. Full episode on Patreon below: https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

Jan 28, 20241 hr 14 min

Cormac McCarthy - The Passenger

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss American author Cormac McCarthy's penultimate novel of family, loss, madness, and genius, The Passenger. Full episode on our patreon as always! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

Nov 30, 20231 hr 18 min

Malcolm Lowry - Under the Volcano

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss British author Malcolm Lowry's harrowing 1947 masterpiece of love, war, disease, culture, and meaning, Under the Volcano! Full episode available to patrons as always! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

Sep 29, 20231 hr 39 min

Kenzaburō Ōe - The Silent Cry

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Japanese Nobel Prize winner Kenzaburō Ōe's 1967 novel of family, death, war, and history, The Silent Cry! Full episode available on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

Sep 04, 20231 hr 23 min

David Duchovny - Truly Like Lightning (feat. Patrick Willems)

In this episode, the Spine Crackers are joined by friend of the show, real life friend, film critic, filmmaker, youtube legend, and all around renaissance man Patrick Willems to discuss David Duchovny's novel of faith, family, and life in modern-day America Truly Like Lightning. Full episode on Patreon as always! Pat - https://www.youtube.com/@patrickhwillems https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

Aug 12, 20231 hr 50 min

Stefan Zweig - Chess Story

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Austrian writer Stefan Zweig's final novella of war, class, and genius, Chess Story! Full episode on the Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

Jul 22, 20231 hr 16 min

William Gaddis - Agapē Agape (feat. Book Shore)

In this episode, the Spine Crackers are joined by friend of the show and booktube stalwart Ben from Book Shore to discuss iconic postwar American author William Gaddis' posthumously published final work of culture, history, technology, and art, 2002's Agapē Agape! Full episode on the Patreon! (SORRY FOR SLIGHTLY SCUFFED/CHOPPED AUDIO GABE FROZE AND HAD TO REJOIN THE ZOOM A COUPLE TIMES!) https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

Jul 08, 20231 hr 30 min

Tarjei Vesaas - The Birds

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Norwegian author Tarjei Vesaas' 1957 novel of mental illness, family, nature, and perception The Birds. Full episode on Patreon as always. https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

Jun 02, 20231 hr 22 min

Emil Ferris - My Favorite Thing is Monsters

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss the first ever graphic novel read for the show, Emil Ferris' 2017 pulp noir horror tale of trauma, history, and childhood My Favorite Thing is Monsters! Full episode available on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

May 06, 20231 hr 36 min

William Faulkner - Big Woods: The Hunting Stories

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss William Faulkner's 1955 collection of stories of humanity's relationship with nature, history, and race Big Woods. Full discussion on Patreon as always! https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

Apr 14, 20231 hr 25 min

George Sand - Indiana

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss French romantic (?) author George Sand's (aka Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil) 1832 novel of loveless marriage, colonialism, and social mores, Indiana. Enjoy. https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers

Feb 09, 20231 hr 23 min

William T. Vollmann - The Atlas

In the first episode of 2023, the Spine Crackers read William T. Vollmann's semi-autobiographical 1996 novel of sex, violence, regret, and loneliness The Atlas!

Jan 13, 20231 hr 26 min

The Second Annual Spine Crackers End of Year Roundup Spectacular (2022)!

In this episode, the Spine Crackers go over their 2022 year in reading, including awards for our top 5 books of the year, best cover, worst book, and many more! We hope you're having a fantastic holiday season and we'll be back to our normal schedule in the new year!

Dec 27, 20222 hr 31 min

Nicholas Mosley - Impossible Object

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss British author and 3rd Baron Ravensdale Nicholas Mosley's 1968 novel of war, love, power, and violence, Impossible Object.

Oct 21, 20221 hr 26 min

James Baldwin - Giovanni's Room FEAT @Juliemichellereads

This week, the Spine Crackers were lucky enough to be joined by Julie, who runs the fantastic bookstagram account @Juliemichellereads, to discuss James Baldwin's 1956 novel of sexual and national identity, desire, morality, and death Giovanni's Room! Enjoy and make sure to follow Julie!

Sep 27, 20221 hr 26 min

Ivan Turgenev - Fathers and Sons

In this episode, the Spine Crackers discuss Ivan Turgenev's legendary 1862 novel of family, friendship, generational difference, philosophy, and love Fathers and Sons. Enjoy!

Sep 02, 20221 hr 21 min

Interview with the new owners of Owl Pen Books

Matt sits down for a conversation with Sydney and Eric, L.A. transplants and newly minted bookstore owners of the legendary " bibliophile Mecca of Washington County ": Owl Pen Books! Please enjoy this casual discussion about the rationale behind assuming ownership of a bookstore in 2022, the history of the store, literary loves, leaps of faith, and hopes for the future running a business out of a converted chicken coop. https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spinecrac...

Aug 16, 202244 min

Percival Everett - The Trees

In this episode, the Spine Crackers read prolific American author Percival Everett's most recent (and recently longlisted for the Booker prize) novel of race, memory, genre, and violence, The Trees, which tells the story of a series of mysterious and gruesome murders in a small, but historically significant, Mississippi town and winds up in places you will never expect. https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spinecrackers

Aug 16, 20221 hr 23 min

Roberto Bolano - The Third Reich feat. Ben of Book Shore

In this episode, the Spine Crackers are joined by friend of the show Ben, who runs the fantastic booktube channel Book Shore, to discuss legendary Chilean author Roberto Bolano's first novel, published after his untimely death but written in 1989, The Third Reich! https://www.youtube.com/c/BookShore https://www.patreon.com/spinecrackers https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spinecrackers

Jul 27, 20221 hr 32 min
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