It’s summertime! Time to plan our vacation reading and, in Jon’s case, figure out what books are best to read to a newborn. In Episode 78, the guys talk summer reading, infant language development, World War II history, and cat leashes. Then they get blown away by Charles Baxter’s “The Next Building I Plan to Bomb.”
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Topics and Reading Discussed
- “The Next Building I Plan to Bomb” by Charles Baxter is online at The New York Times. It says it’s an excerpt, which is true, in that it’s an excerpt from a book, but it’s the whole story. Trust us.
- Ben’s students agree, “The Rememberer” by Aimee Bender is a dope story. The WITTScasters read it back in Episode 20.
- Jon might take it easy this summer with the 800 page The Bone Tree by Greg Iles.
- Then again, Jon’s about to welcome a baby girl into the world. He’s going to have to decide whether The Very Hungry Caterpillar or some Henry James will make better reading for an infant.
- Brian might try a little non-fiction reading this summer, maybe brush up on his World War Two history. If he has room for useful information in his overcrowded mind, that is.
- If you want to learn about the presidents and spend quality time with your significant other (something that, according to Jon, you really oughta do), try PBS’ American Experience.
- How to take your cat camping (note: these instructions are from Australia; WITTScast listeners in the Northern Hemisphere should perform them backwards).
- Ben liked the story “Hawkins’ Boy” from Episode 71 so much he went ahead and ordered Charles Dodd White’s collection Sinners of Sanction County.
- Brian’s enjoying Charles Baxter’s new collection There’s Something I Want You To Do.
- Brian and Jon can agree that Baxter’s Saul and Patsy is a damn good book (dope, even?).
- When Jon’s reading Charles Baxter, he likes to watch for examples of the fiction writer practicing what he preaches in his critical work, like Burning Down the House.
- Maybe just steer clear of cheap motels altogether?