This week, we continue our spookily-seasonal unit on David Sodergren’s The Haar. What is the role of memory in a story preoccupied with bodies? How is identity constructed? Is this book the first recorded instance of Cosy Gore? The new episode is now available! #TheHaar #DavidSodergren #Horror

This week, we begin our Modern Horror unit with the first part of David Sodergren’s excellent 2024 novel The Haar! starsandswords.com/77-the-haar-...

This week, we begin our eleventh unit and our discussion of Jane Austen’s 1811 novel Sense And Sensibility. How are Elinor and Marianne Dashwood compared and contrasted? How sharp is Austen’s satire? What exactly makes a flannel waistcoat so unattractive?

Worrye not about 'being productive,' for thou art not a product. Thou art a star daunsinge yn a hopeful skye. A signal blinking across centuryes and worldes. Thou art a song performid just once and perfectlye.

Recently, I shared a Lord of the Rings subway map, & I had a bunch of people asking me to do a Narnia version. Well...here you go! It's covers all 7 books, so it's a lot more complicated the the LoTR ones. And if you like it, it's available to buy on my Etsy store: www.etsy.com/shop/Surpris...

I’ve been done with The Silmarillion unit for less than twenty-four hours, and I’m already developing a deep and respectful crush on Jane Austen. Join me on Thursday for Sense and Sensibility!

This week, we conclude our tenth unit, and our discussion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion! Come join us for a one-slide recap of The Lord of the Rings!

Over the weekend I drew these two subway maps for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and shared them. A lot of you asked about purchasing them, and now you can! You can buy one or both (as digital files or as prints) at my brand new Etsy shop: surprisedeelmaps.etsy.com

This week, the final fall of Númenor and the history of the Rings of Power! Available now in your favorite podcast app!

This week, the final fall of Númenor and the history of the Rings of Power! Available now in your favorite podcast app!

This week, we give up the promise of immortality as we reach the end of Chapter XIX and begin Chapter XX of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion. Why does the Lay of Leithian end where it does, and why are the sons of Fëanor so unkillable? starsandswords.com/61-the-silma...

This week, love and tragedy in Chapter XIX of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion. Why is the tale of Beren and Lúthien such an important story? Are oaths always a bad thing? Why has no-one written a network TV sitcom about Thingol and Melian? starsandswords.com/59-the-silma...

This week, we try to make it to the end of Chapter XV of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion. What does Glaurung have in common with the Balrogs? Why does Ulmo whisper instructions to Turgon and Finrod? Does this book really pass the Bechdel-Wallace test? starsandswords.com/55-the-silma...

In this bonus Q&A for #TolkienReadingDay, we address the issue of inheritance among the immortal elves, the lost story of Lady of Lothlórien, the political infrastructure of The Shire, and the official power ranking of the Valar! Link in bio!

"It was in fairy-stories that I first divined the potency of the words, and the wonder of the things, such as stone, and wood, and iron; tree and grass; house and fire; bread and wine." - Tolkien, On Fairy Stories

This week, we continue our discussion of #TheSilmarillion with Chapters XI and XII, including the creation of the sun and the moon, the securing of Valinor, and the awakening of Men. Link in bio! #Tolkien #menelluin

“And while Angband was besieged and its gates shut there were green things even among the pits and broken rocks before the doors of hell.” - The Silmarillion

This week, we continue our discussion of The Silmarillion with the end of Chapter VIII and all of Chapter IX, including the the darkening of Valinor, the theft of the Silmarils, and the violence and tragedy which follows. Link in bio!

This week, we continue our discussion of The Silmarillion with the the forging of the Silmarils, domestic discord in the House of Finwë, and the secret origins of Tolkien’s most terrifying creation!

This week, we continue our discussion of The Silmarillion with the logistics of crossing the Great Sea, our introduction to Fëanor and the family of Finwë, and the subtlety of Melkor. Link in bio!

In this bonus episode, we discuss the location of the Far Heaven, the nature of the Ainur, the absence of dwarves and a vision of medieval utopia. Link in bio!

I will never be a Cocomelon parent. Sit down children we are watching The Lord of the Rings

A few people guessed correctly! For our Valentine's Day episode, we're covering a sexy (?) French classic that not only sparked the modern Realist style, but was also tried for obscenity. Join us 12 February for Gustave Flaubert's pessimistic adultery novel, 'Madame Bovary' (1857).

This week, we continue our unit on The Silmarillion and discuss the Days Before Days, time and space (and calendars and maps), and the paradox of free will. Link in bio!

This week, we continue our unit on The Silmarillion and discuss the Valaquenta, spheres of authority, intertexting already and The Diagram. What do the Valar tell us about what Tolkien thought important? Link in bio!

This week, we continue our unit on The Silmarillion and discuss the Ainulindalë, aesthetics and philosophy, the subcreative process and the Secret Origins of Melkor. Link in bio!

This week, we begin our unit on J.R.R. Tolkien's posthumous work of mythology and history, and discuss reading strategies, layers of narrative and the creative impulse. Link in bio!

This week, we assemble our forces and call for help in chapters five to ten of C.S. Lewis' Prince Caspian and discuss the medieval perspective on past and future, the oracular power of centaurs, and the difference between beasts. Link in bio!

This week, we return to Narnia with C.S. Lewis' 1951 sequel Prince Caspian! Subscribe now at StarsandSwords.com! #narnia #princecaspian