Lecture 95: Tear This Heart Out (Arráncame la vida) by Angeles Mastretta >> Looking for a summer read that doesn't feel like a trifle?? This dive into the history, glamour and drama of Mexico in the 1930s is your answer!
Mastretta's ultra-engaging, sex-forward, historical, feminist family romance from 1985 might be a touchstone of feminist literature, but it's also SO FUN TO READ. Kimberly dives in to the feminist underpinnings, the way our protagonist can rationalize living with a criminal (anyone interested in how Carmela Soprano did it, you should read this book!) and the literary merits of this engaging work. This is a summer read you'll remember forever!
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Lecture 94: ORBITAL by Samantha Harvey >> For whatever reason, Kimberly was reluctant to pick up this book. She is SO glad she did.
Orbital is the kind of novel that could inspire hours and hours of conversation. Kimberly can't imagine a single person who feels like they apprehended the thing with just one read. If you're curious about how she pulled it off, how she uses language to describe the undescribable, or plenty of other aspects--indulge yourself in a more fulsome experience of this gorgeous Booker Prize winner now!
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LECTURE 93: I CAPTURE THE CASTLE by Dodie Smith >> Want to know why The Atlantic put this at the top of their summer reading list? Listen in!
NO SPOILERS! Kimberly could not agree more with The Atlantic. This novel is the most crowd-pleasery of any book she ever recommends. It is SO GOOD. Rich and complex, but also light, it's gorgeous and transporting--everything you want in a summer read! Listen in now to be sure you fully appreciate all that makes it so appealing.
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READING CHALLENGE 1b: PART TWO of To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf >> No novel keeps giving like this novel. Kimberly spends a delicious hour digging in to this complex literature-changing masterpiece.
People. This is when things get fun. Kimberly breaks down a bunch of aspects of the work: figurative language, the unique structure, patriarchy v. matriarchy, the very nature of creativity and the essence of what it is to be human (!!).
Want to get more out of this insanely great book? Treat yourself now.
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The very first foxed page READING CHALLENGE: To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf >> Kimberly would argue that there’s no better way to usher in summer than reading this book.
If you love to read, The Foxed Page is for you. With these deep dives into the best books, you’ll gain a richer understanding of the title at hand, all while learning to read everything better.
Choose from long-form lectures, quick recommendations, talks on old favorites and plenty of episodes from the archives.
Listen to The Foxed Page--with Kimberly Ford, best-selling author, former adjunct professor and Ph.D.
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