The Foxed Page

If you loved this book this summer (or didn't quite think it lived up to NORTH WOODS), go back to school with me (and Miles and Kate and their kids) to study why the novel works well in so many ways--and falls a little short in others. Plus! A look at how Mason's humor is really firing on all cylinders in this one!

Interview referred to in podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/poured-over/id1567969228?i=1000775778354

The average moviegoer can't answer that because, honestly--who's plowed through the 592-page epic poem recently? With today's lecture, no one needs to, but you might end up WANTING TO.

We discuss what THE ODYSSEY actually is, when it was sung, when it was written, whether it was actually Homer who did the writing and so much more.

Then we dive into the difficulty of translating this behemoth, with some gorgeous (and hilarious) comparisons of lines from the years 1611, 1967, 1996 and 2018.

Lastly we dive into my impressions of the movie, which I saw AT A DRIVE-IN.

In a mere hour you could feel a lot smarter about one of the foundational texts of all of Western Literature. Listen in now!

Besson might have lured us in with Marcel P., but we stayed for the STORY. Listen in to find out how the prose, the plotting and the TURN (??) in this novel function so well.

Who ISN'T talking about the release of LIFE OF M on August 25??

Prepare for Cusk's new work by reminding yourself--or finding out for the first time--why her approach to fiction is so radical.

OUTLINE's narrative, structure and even basic description means plenty of grist for my mill. Whether you loved the book or were left wondering what the hell just happened--prepare for some super-rich edification.

(This is a REPOST of an earlier lecture.)

Yes. I'm going to read and analyze something I MYSELF WROTE.

I promise it won't be boring.

Also, it's short.