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, 2025•1 hr 21 min
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, 2025•1 hr 27 min
The Spine Crackers review our 2024 in books, take questions from our Patrons, and reflect on what was and what is to come. Full episode for everyone this time, but check out our Patreon. See you guys again soon! patreon.com/spinecrackers
Feb 10, 2025•3 hr 7 min
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, 2024•1 hr 9 min
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, 2024•1 hr 17 min
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, 2024•1 hr 21 min
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, 2024•1 hr 11 min
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, 2024•1 hr 14 min
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, 2024•1 hr 17 min
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, 2024•1 hr 34 min
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, 2024•1 hr 14 min
In this year-end episode, the Spine Crackers rank every book we read this year from worst to best, hand out various other awards such as best cover, best quote/passage, best character, answer listener questions, and more!
Jan 09, 2024•3 hr 30 min
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, 2023•1 hr 18 min
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, 2023•1 hr 39 min
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, 2023•1 hr 23 min
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, 2023•1 hr 50 min
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, 2023•1 hr 16 min
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, 2023•1 hr 30 min
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, 2023•1 hr 22 min
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, 2023•1 hr 36 min
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, 2023•1 hr 25 min
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, 2023•1 hr 23 min
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, 2023•1 hr 26 min
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, 2022•2 hr 31 min
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, 2022•1 hr 26 min
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, 2022•1 hr 26 min
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, 2022•1 hr 21 min
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, 2022•44 min
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, 2022•1 hr 23 min
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, 2022•1 hr 32 min