Zero to Well-Read

Rebecca and Jeff explore the novel that made magical realism a global phenomenon. They talk about what magical realism is (and isn't), the rise and fall of the Buendía family, and the fictional town of Macondo as allegories for real-world history and political events, and why the book is so hard to summarize. Along the way, they offer tips for how to read One Hundred Years of Solitude without getting lost and reflect on why surrendering to its chaos is part of the experience. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content. Follow Zero to Well-Read on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Email us: [email protected] Zero to Well-Read is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: The Buendía family tree from Wikipedia The Book Riot Podcast episode about Magical Realism This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca gather around the hearth to discuss Louisa May Alcott's beloved novel about girlhood, family, ambition, and what it means to live a good life. They talk about why Alcott was reluctant to write a “girls’ book,” Little Women's unique combination of moral instruction and domestic realism, and how the March sisters each model a different way of being a woman in a world with narrow choices. Along the way, they explore why Little Women was long dismissed as minor literature, how it became one of the foundational texts of American womanhood, the book’s complicated relationship to marriage, class, and gender, and why Jo March remains a lodestar for readers more than 150 years later. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content. Follow Zero to Well-Read on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Email us: [email protected] Thank you to ThriftBooks for being the presenting sponsor of this season of Zero to Well-Read! Zero to Well-Read is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca and Jeff talk through their methods for reading more and getting more out of reading, from defining what “better” looks like for you to making room for reading by letting go of other habits. They dig into when to push through, when to quit a book, how to choose books outside the algorithm, and how small shifts in attention can enrich your reading life. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content. Follow Zero to Well-Read on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Email us: [email protected] Zero to Well-Read is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca and Jeff reflect on what they've learned during the whirlwind first season of the show, answer listener questions, and discuss ideas for the future. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content. Follow Zero to Well-Read on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Email us: [email protected] Zero to Well-Read is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca revisit Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, a story so familiar it’s often mistaken for simple. They consider its moral stakes, its enduring influence on readers and society, and why Scrooge's redemption still resonates. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content. Follow Zero to Well-Read on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Email us: [email protected] Zero to Well-Read is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices