104 - Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee

In this episode of The Books of Some Substance podcast, Nathan and David get into the first half of Fyodor Dostoevsky's masterpiece, The Brothers Karamazov (Books 1-6; Parts 1 and 2). From the novel's dense, philosophical style and its stark contrast to modern life, to deep dives into themes like love, free will, human suffering, redemption, and the role of faith in a crumbling society, Nathan and David explore what makes this 19th-century Russian epic timeless (and occasionally trudging). They break down Ivan's worldview in "Pro and Contra," the iconic "Grand Inquisitor" chapter, and Father Zosima's profound teachings on universal love and personal responsibility. Whether you're a Dostoevsky veteran or tackling the "world's greatest novel" for the first time, this discussion wrestles with the big questions: How do we find meaning in absurdity? Can society handle true freedom? And what does it mean to love unconditionally? This is Part 1 of 2. Tune in next time for the dramatic second half! If you enjoyed this episode,  drop us a line with your thoughts on Dostoevsky or the Karamazovs. What ultimate question does the novel make YOU wrestle with? Support the podcast and grab some merch at booksofsomesubstance.com. Happy reading!

In this episode of the Books of Some Substance podcast, hosts Nathan Sharp and David Southard reunite with our old friend Eric Heiman (whose life and experiences connect closely to the novel on this episode) to discuss the intricate and poignant novel Light Years by James Salter. We get into the unique lyrical and unadorned narrative style of the book,  the mysteries of life, the contrast between perceived and real lives, the pursuit of freedom versus loyalty, the existential and daily struggles of the married couple at the center of the novel, the impact of re-reading the book years later, noting how personal experiences and age have deepened their appreciation for Salter's work, and the seemingly endless cultural references scattered throughout the novel, debating whether they enhance or alienate the reader.  00:00 Introduction and Initial Impressions 01:35 Host Introduction and Personal Reflections 03:44 Deep Dive into the Book's Themes 06:29 Character Analysis and Personal Connections 08:09 Exploring the Book's Style and Prose 10:41 Discussion on Freedom and Relationships 13:18 Impact of the Book on Personal Lives 16:45 Author's Background and Influence 19:45 Cultural References and Allusions 29:39 Thoughts and Reflections of Self 40:31 More Cultural References, and Social Circles 41:51 Mixed Reception and Critical Reviews 42:44 Cultural Alienation and Aspiration 47:46 Rome: A City of Ghosts 49:44 Understanding the Book's Depth 52:10 The Importance of Cultural References 54:44 Final Thoughts and Recommendations 59:48 Reflections on Characters and Themes 01:05:25 Concluding Remarks and Farewell  

Exploring 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Join hosts David Southard and Nathan Sharp in the Books of Some Substance podcast as they kick off Season 3 with an in-depth discussion on Gabriel Garcia Marquez's seminal Latin American novel, '100 Years of Solitude.' This episode covers the novel's ambitious narrative, magical realism, and deeply complex characters like Jose Arcadio Buendía and Colonel Aureliano Buendía. They explore themes of solitude, memory, colonialism, familial curses, and the inevitable march of modernity, offering both personal reflections and broader literary analysis. Whether you’re new to the novel or revisiting it, this episode promises a fresh and engaging perspective on one of literature's most enduring classics. 00:00 Introduction and Initial Impressions 01:55 Podcast Introduction and Book Overview 02:57 Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Journey to Stardom 03:36 Personal Reading Experiences 04:27 Themes and Style of the Novel 08:04 Setting and Cultural Context 11:04 Plot Summary and Key Events 12:47 Recurring Themes 13:31 Solitude and Human Connection 20:36 Family Dynamics and Generational Shifts 29:28 Political and Historical Context 39:54 Memory and Forgetting 41:51 The Importance of Memory 42:52 The Curse of Forgetting 48:07 The Illusion of Life 49:07 The Dance of Life 59:30 The Burden of Family Legacy 01:07:33 The Inevitability of Modernity 01:17:37 Final Thoughts and Recommendations  #BooksOfSomeSubstance #100YearsOfSolitude #GabrielGarciaMarquez #LatinAmericanLiterature #MagicalRealism #BookDiscussion #LiteraryPodcast #NobelPrizeLiterature #BookAnalysis #booktok #podcast #literature #magicalrealism #solitude #creativewriting #writingstyle #family

Season Three: Family The Books of Some Substance Podcast's third season is underway! David and Nathan are here to announce the season's theme of family and introduce the lineup of books they'll be reading and discussing. The season opens with '100 Years of Solitude' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, followed by 'Light Years' by James Salter, 'The Brothers Karamazov' by Fyodor Dostoevsky, 'The Obscene Bird of Night' by Jose Donoso, 'To the Lighthouse' by Virginia Woolf, and concludes with 'Blinding' by Mircea Cărtărescu. We invite listeners to read along, participate in discussions on their community page here on YouTube, and join live read-alongs to make the season more interactive. 00:00 Introduction to Season Three 00:13 Exploring '100 Years of Solitude' 01:00 Diving into 'Light Years' 01:41 Discussing 'The Brothers Karamazov' 02:48 Unpacking 'The Obscene Bird of Night' 05:12 Returning to Virginia Woolf with 'To the Lighthouse' 06:15 Wrapping Up with 'Blinding' 09:05 Interactive Reading and Community Engagement 10:58 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

In this episode, David and Nathan look back over season two, tracing the connections, marking the distinctions, and reframing their understanding/awareness of how control works in each and every book discussed this season. Revisiting: The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector, Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon, Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee, Malina by Ingeborg Bachmann, The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles, and Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller. Enjoy. And please don't forget to give us a nice rating on Apple Podcasts, or leave a note on the YouTube channel. We appreciate you all. Happy Reading! Find Us: X / Twitter: https://x.com/booksosubstance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booksosubstance/ Web: https://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/  

In this episode, David and Nathan delve into Henry Miller's controversial and groundbreaking novel "Tropic of Cancer." Published in 1934, this semi-autobiographical work was banned in the US and the UK upon its release due to its explicit content. Despite—and perhaps in part because of—its ban, "Tropic of Cancer" has endured as a provocative and essential piece of literature.  Discussed on this episode, historical context (with a lot of help from George Orwell’s essay "Inside the Whale," which contextualizes the novel superbly), mysticism, narcissism, surrealism, c*cks and c*nts, general vulgarity, and authenticity.  This episode serves as a comprehensive exploration of "Tropic of Cancer," addressing both its literary significance and the moral dilemmas it poses, making it a rich conversation for fans and critics of Henry Miller alike. This episode serves as a comprehensive, though by no means exhaustive, exploration of "Tropic of Cancer” that we hope you enjoy.   As always, please leave comments, reviews, and buy some books through the podcast’s website to support future episodes. *  Note: The photographs at the opening of the YouTube version of the episode come from Henry Miller’s personal friend Brassaï (Gyula Halász), a 20th century Hungarian–French photographer, sculptor, filmmaker, and writer (even a book on Miller’s Paris Years). *  Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/BooksOSubstance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booksosubstance/ Our brand-new website: https://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/

Come explore existential despair, the hell of isolation, and the mad dash into oblivion with Nathan and David. On this episode, your hosts have an in-depth discussion on Paul Bowles' 1949 novel The Sheltering Sky - a novel of stark prose and philosophical depth that follows Port and Kit Moresby, an American couple traveling in post-WWII North Africa. Nathan and David delve into the themes of finiteness, the pursuit of oblivion, selfishness, and the differences between a tourist and a traveler, all set against the sublime and terrifying beauty of the Sahara desert. Listen along and tell us what you think of Bowles' masterpiece and its dark, captivating narrative.

Welcome to our episode on the novel Malina by Ingeborg Bachmann. David and Nathan wind their conversation through the disorienting pages of this incredible novel. We explore its unique form and style, ponder its structure, and discuss how these creative decisions add to the overarching sense of strangeness and mystery that permeates the narrative. In this episode, we contemplate and ponder: Is Malina even real? Or perhaps he’s pure animus overtaking the unknown woman’s self? What is it that makes Ivan so desirable?  What is happening with the phone conversations? Does Bachmann’s views on art and logical positivism affect the interpretation of the novel? What’s the deal with airplane peanuts? Join us for this where we try to unravel parts of this mesmerizing novel. * Books of Some Substance: Twitter: https://twitter.com/BooksOSubstance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booksosubstance/ Our brand-new website: https://www.booksofsomesubstance.com/ * Ingeborg Bachmann (1926–1973) was an Austrian poet and novelist, acclaimed for her profound exploration of existential themes and innovative literary style. Born in Klagenfurt, Austria, Bachmann experienced the tumultuous events of World War II firsthand, which profoundly influenced her writing. She studied philosophy, psychology, and German literature at the universities of Innsbruck, Graz, and Vienna. Bachmann's early poetry collections, such as "Die gestundete Zeit" (The Deferred Time), established her as a leading voice in post-war German literature. However, it was her groundbreaking novel "Malina" that solidified her reputation as a literary icon. Bachmann's works often grapple with themes of identity, trauma, and the search for meaning in a fractured world. Despite her tragically premature death in 1973, her legacy endures, with her writings continuing to inspire readers and writers alike with their depth, complexity, and enduring relevance.

Nathan and David continue their exploration of control with Waiting for Barbarians, a 1980 novel by South African writer J.M. Coetzee. Empire! Torture! Manipulation! Control! Quite the book, and quite the episode.

Our second episode on Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon, and again David is joined by Seth from W.A.S.T.E. Mailing List. Seth is here to nimbly unravel some of the meaning of this insane and insanely good novel, and he does an excellent job. But no matter what they tend to get lost along the way, as any analysis of the book will be "not a disentanglement from, but a progressive knotting into." Join them as they knot into the brennschluss point, the inciting incident of what's happening with Slothrop's c*ck, fragmentation of self at at the force of control, the Raketen-Stadt as antagonist, and if there is any sense of hope by the end of the book. * Books of Some Substance is on Twitter, Instagram, and our brand-new website.  * Seth is a non-authoritative devotee of anything and everything related to Thomas Pynchon and all varieties of difficult and demanding literature. You can find him on Instagram, Youtube, Twitter, and Substack. * Gravity's Rainbow is a groundbreaking novel by acclaimed author Thomas Pynchon. It stands as a masterpiece of postmodern literature, captivating readers with its intricate plot, rich symbolism, and thought-provoking themes. This iconic work delves into the complexities of World War II, war profiteering, corporate scheming, human nature, reflexes, mind control, State control, scientific advancements of the time, and science fiction. The novel offers a unique blend of historical fiction, science fiction, and satire. With its enigmatic characters and labyrinthine narrative, Gravity's Rainbow has become a literary classic, drawing scholars and enthusiasts seeking a challenging and intellectually stimulating reading experience. A world of paranoia, conspiracy, and intricate storytelling, Gravity's Rainbow remains an enduring and influential work in the canon of modern literature.