American Writers (One Hundred Pages at a Time)

Episode 645: Richard Wright: The Outsider (Part 2 Dream)

Part two of my review of THE OUTSIDER by Richard Wright. This section seems to be the most hopeful part of the novel as we witness Damon Cross' attempt to remake himself and find a type of freedom while avoiding bad faith.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 80: Citizen of the Galaxy

CITIZEN OF THE GALAXY is the best and most expansive of the Heinlein juveniles, as well as one of its most adult in theme. While only the penultimate juvenile, it seems to be the capstone work in many ways.

Episode 644: Richard Wright: The Outsider (Part 1: Dread)

I start my look at Richard Wright's THE OUTSIDER with part one (Dread), which introduces us to Cross Damon (Wright's names amirite) and his miserable life and how an accident gives him a chance to start fresh, but is forced to commit a murder to keep his secret.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 80: Double Star

In this episode, I examine the delightful novel DOUBLE STAR by Robert A. Heinlein and talk about how the actor loses themselves into their subjects. While not necessary to be a science fiction novel, Heinlein weaves a handful of fascinating sci-fi elements into the story.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 79: A Time for the Stars (Part 2)

The conclusion of my review of A TIME FOR THE STARS by Robert A. Heinlein. The changing relationship between the twins as one approaches death and the other returns still young with his life ahead of him seems to reflect the experiences we all face with the older generations.

Episode 643: Richard Wright: Black Boy (American Hunger), Part 3/3

The finale of my review of BLACK BOY (AMERICAN HUNGER) by Richard Wright. This part of the memoir follows Wright's life in Chicago and his love affair and breakup with the American Communist Party. 
Next, five episodes on THE OUTSIDER. 

Episode 642: Richard Wright: Black Boy (Part 2)

Part 2 of my review of the memoir BLACK BOY by Richard Wright. This part of the novel explores Wright's discovery of the rules of Jim Crow, his quest for intellectual autonomy, and his ultimate decision to leave the South.

Robert A. Heinlein: Episode 78: Time for the Stars (Part 1)

Part 1 of my review of A TIME FOR THE STARS by Robert A. Heinlein. This novel explores the twin paradox and humanity branching out into the cosmos.

Episode 641: Richard Wright: Black Boy (American Hunger), Part 1

In this episode I explore the first four chapters of Richard Wright's BLACK BOY, his gut wrenching and deep memoir of growing up black in the Jim Crow South.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 77: Tunnel in the Sky (Part 2)

Robert A. Heinlein's TUNNEL IN THE SKY has a strong and fascinating second half in which we explore questions of building democracy and civilization. The good: The optimism about cooperation in harsh conditions. The bad: strong hints of settler colonialism.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 76: Tunnel in the Sky (Part 1)

In this episode I look at the first half of Robert A. Heinlein's TUNNEL IN THE SKY. In this juvenile, Heinlein does some interesting thing with the old Malthusian over-population narrative. The first half reads a bit like a standard adventure story, though. This novel really shines in the second half. 

Episode 640: Richard Wright: Native Son (Part 4/4, Conclusion)

The finale of my look at Richard Wright's NATIVE SON.

Episode 639: Richard Wright: Native Son (Flight-Fate, Part 3/4)

In this third part of four exploring the powerful novel NATIVE SON by Richard Wright, we witness the capture of Bigger Thomas and the way the media presented a black defendant, ignored black victims, and jumped to racist assumptions, all the while trying to expose the Communist Party for its anti-racist work.

Robert A. Heinlein: Episode 75: The Star Beast (Part 2)

The conclusion to my review of the excellent novel, THE STAR BEAST, by Robert A. Heinlein. One of his best novels and high on the ranking of the juveniles. It explores issues such as gender, service, family heritage, and diplomacy.

Episode 638: Richard Wright: Native Son (Part 2, Flight)

In this episode I look at most of part two of Richard Wright's NATIVE SON, called "Flight". Here the narrative focuses on Bigger Thomas' efforts at survival after his murder of Mary Dalton, but also look more into the perspectives of mainstream white society on communists and African-Americans. 

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 74: The Star Beast (Part 1)

THE STAR BEAST is one of the best books by Robert A. Heinlein that I explored in this podcast, and this suprised me from the look of the silly cover. Gender, diplomacy, politics, law, and bureaucracy are just some of the themes Heinlein crams into this little novel.

Episode 637: Richard Wright: Native Son (Part 1, Fear)

In this episode I take on the first 100 pages of NATIVE SON by Richard Wright. It is a brilliant novel and I can only scratch the surface, but it is required reading for understanding America. I focus on the major characters and their motivations, knowing we can only begin to understand Bigger Thomas in the early stages of the novel.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 73: Project: Nightmare

While "Project: Nightmare" (1953) is not one of Heinlein's strongest short stories it is worth reading for his use of the Cold War setting. The question of morality, sacrifice, and the use of misuse of the talented for the achievement of national goals is still worth reflecting on.

Episode 626: Richard Wright: Uncle Tom's Children (Part 2)

The conclusion to my thoughts on the wonderful short story collection, UNCLE TOM'S CHILDREN by Richard Wright. In the second half of this collection we move to a proposed (if maybe futile) response. The last two stories have moments of resistance culminating in sacrifice but not victory or a promise of change.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 72: Sky-Lift

A very brief look at the short story "Sky-Lift" by Robert A. Heinlein. It is mostly a technical piece on the dangers of space flight and works as a sequel to the GREEN HILLS OF EARTH stories.

Episode 625: Richard Wright: Uncle Tom's Children (Part 1)

Richard Wright's first published book was a series of short stories called UNCLE TOM'S CHILDREN. They are wonderful stories looking at the brutality of race relations in Great Depression-era America and good preparation for NATIVE SON.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 71: Starman Jones (Part 2)

The conclusion to my look at STARMAN JONES by Robert A. Heinlein. This one clearly stands out among the Heinlein juveniles by branching out into new themes and new geographies.

Episode 624: Richard Wright: Lawd Today (Part 2)

The conclusion to my review of Richard Wright's first novel, LAWD TODAY. It is a great way to start digging into Richard Wright, and I think a good contrast with NATIVE SON, which we will look at in a few weeks.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 70: Starman Jones (Part 1)

In 1953, Heinlein wrote his 7th juvenile in STARMAN JONES. He always seems to have something new to say in each of these novels, even if the main characters are always a little bit cookie cutter. He does try to give this young man a bit more differentiation. Nevertheless, this is another good example of world building. I enjoy how each of these novels feels lived in.

 

Episode 623: Richard Wright: Lawd Today!

Today I start a new series looking at the major works of Richard Wright. We begin with LAWD TODAY!, which was published in the 1960s, but was actually the first book written. It is an amazing modernist text looking at the working class black life in Chicago during the Great Depression. It is also one of the bleakest books we have looked at in a while.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 69: The Year of the Jackpot

"The Year of the Jackpot" is a fascinating story by Heinlein published in GALAXY in 1952. It deals with sexual morality, normalcy, survival, historical cycles, and the end of the world. A must read.

Episode 622: W. E. B. Du Bois: Black Reconstruction in America (Part 7)

The final episode in my review of BLACK RECONSTRUCTION by W. E. B. Du Bois. These final three chapters summarize the major themes of the book quite well. One of the best books on the topic, even a hundred years after publication.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 68: The Rolling Stones (Part 2)

The conclusion to my review of THE ROLLING STONES by Robert A. Heinlein. An overall great book in this juvenile series.

Episode 621: W. E. B. Du Bois: Black Reconstruction in America (Part 6)

Part 6 of my review of W. E. B. Du Bois' BLACK RECONSTRUCTION IN AMERICA.

Episode 620: W. E. B. Du Bois: Black Reconstruction in America (Part 5)

We are in the meat of the book BLACK RECONSTRUCTION IN AMERICA by W. E. B. Du Bois. In these chapters, he looks into the revolution and counter revolution of property in Mississippi and Louisiana and then Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. We see how different demographic structures led to different reactions by the ruling planter class. 

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 67: The Rolling Stones (Part 1)

In this episode we get introduced to the Stone family and watch them becoming THE ROLLING STONES. This 1952 novel has some of the most well drawn of Heinlein's characters, but it is not the major young man protagonist who are pretty much interchangeable in this one. Some meta commentary on his juvenile novel heroes, I reckon.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 66: The Puppet Masters (Part 2)

The second part of my review of THE PUPPET MASTERS by Robert A. Heinlein. While I love a lot about this book, it ultimately falls far short of what it could have been.

Episode 619: W. E. B. Du Bois: Black Reconstruction in America (Part 4)

In this episode look at the middle chapters of BLACK RECONSTRUCTION IN AMERICA, exploring the broader questions at the heart of the 15th Amendment and the impact of black voting rights on the Reconstruction politics of South Carolina.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 65: The Puppet Masters (Part 1)

It is kind of nice to have old Heinlein back. After writing those juveniles and mainstream science fiction stories, THE PUPPET MASTERS allows Heinlein to bring back hot women, nudity, and individualist philosophy. I am not sure this novel is a success yet, but it is lots of fun.

Episode 619: W. E. B. Du Bois: Black Reconstruction in America (Part 3)

One of the most fascinating looks at Andrew Johnson is made by Du Bois in this section of BLACK RECONSTRUCTION IN AMERICA. I also discuss his sources and unique bibliography in this episode.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 64: Between Planets (Part 2)

The conclusion to my coverage of BETWEEN PLANETS by Robert A. Heinlein.

Episode 617: W. E. B. Du Bois: Black Reconstruction in America (Part 2)

The Civil War ends and the reaction to emancipation starts. In the second part of my coverage of W. E. B. Du Bois' BLACK RECONSTRUCTION IN AMERICA, I look at chapters 5-6 and the beginning of the conservative reaction to the second American Revolution.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 63: Between Planets (Part 1)

Once again, we begin a look at what turns out to be my favorite of the juveniles by Robert A. Heinlein. BETWEEN PLANETS is the best yet. Can they keep getting better? The lesson in this book is courage and honor in the face of fate.

Episode 616: W. E. B. Du Bois: Black Reconstruction in America (Part 1)

In this episode I look at the first four chapters of the amazing book BLACK RECONSTRUCTION IN AMERICA by W. E. B. Du Bois. It is a brilliant celebration of the potential of interracial democracy, written at a time when those potentials were forgotten by historians.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 62: Cliff and the Calories

A bit of an aside in this series, "Cliff and the Calories" by Heinlein is a short story about a young woman struggling with a perhaps unnecessary diet. It slightly aligns with some of what he was doing with his juveniles, but I think we need to wait until we read Podkayne to know for sure.