In Alice Martin's new novel 'Westward Women', American women begin feeling an uncontrollable urge to leave their jobs and families to migrate west. In our interview, Martin likens this urge to the cultural exhaustion felt by many in America in the 1970s, when the idealism of the 60s had worn off.

Here's "Episode 23: Alice Martin, and Is Exposition Gendered?" www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

Here Mason talks about reading the wrong translation of 'Crime and Punishment' in a class as an undergrad.

In this clip, Nina McConigley (@ninamcconigley.bsky.social) talks about her new book 'How To Commit a Post-Colonial Murder' and the overlap between environmental extraction and colonial exploitation.

Here's "Episode 22: Nina McConigley" (@ninamcconigley.bsky.social). www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

Author Jared Lemus tells us the harrowing real-life story of being robbed in Guatemala, which provided the basis for his short story "Saint Dismas", appearing in his award-winning collection 'Guatemalan Rhapsody'.

Here's "Episode 21: Jared Lemus". www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

Here's John Sayles talking about his new book 'Crucible,' and how labor unions break down cultural barriers and challenge despots.

John Sayles on Labor, Politics, and Money: the acclaimed Oscar-nominated independent filmmaker and novelist sits down with Third Person Limited at the Pittsburgh Review of Books. @thirdpersonlimited.bsky.social @nathanpensky.bsky.social @stockstill.bsky.social pghrev.com/john-sayles-...

Here's "Episode 20: John Sayles". www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

Here's Episode 19 "Rejection is Good! And you never read alone". www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

“A strange and hostile energy surrounds René Descartes in the scholarship of early modern English literature.” Read "At the Cartesian Theater" by Nathan Pensky @nathanpensky.bsky.social of @thirdpersonlimited.bsky.social. pghrev.com/at-the-carte...

Tom Ryan discusses how he is unapologetic about dismantling the time-honored teen sleuth mythology in his new book, 'We Had a Hunch'.

Here's Episode 18: "Tom Ryan, and Authors Being Too Literal". www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

Here's Ep. 17: "Interpretation and 'Ecstasy'". www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

I'm happy to announce that my first academic book 'Cartesian Theaters, Shakespearean Minds: Finding Descartes on the Early Modern Stage' is now available for pre-order! (For a 30% discount, feel free to use the discount code NEW30.) edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-cartesi...

Here's our most recent column for the Pittsburgh Review of Books, where Nathan reviews Jonathan Miles's new novel, 'Eradication'. pghrev.com/competing-na...

Here we talk about how annoying the Voyager "Golden Record" would be if released today.

I would love to know how many people who were convicted for January 6 are now member ICE

Here's Episode 16: "Literature for Aliens, and 'How To Be Perfect'". www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

Here's "Episode 15: Chris Hauty and Books as (Bad) Gifts". www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

We tore apart the concept of end-of-year 'best books' list in this episode. Then, of course, we offered our own list. www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/bon...

“But if nobody uses tarot cards, can they maintain any utility as a literary symbol and metaphorical stand-in for seeking answers from unseen forces?” Mason Stockstill of @thirdpersonlimited.bsky.social on the meaning of tarot cards. @stockstill.bsky.social pghrev.com/what-tarot-c...

Because it's the season of giving, here's a Bonus Episode, "We Hate 'Best Books' Lists! Plus: Our 2025 'Best Books' List". www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/bon...

Here's Episode 13: "Short Stories We Love, part 2". Short stories aren’t just for The New Yorker! www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

In Episode 12, we talk narrative gaps and Mona Awad's 'We Love You, Bunny'.

In Episode 12, @ambersparks.bsky.social talks about her chaotic first drafts.

This was such a fun conversation - give it a listen this week if you need an excuse to get away from your family!

Here's Episode 12: "Amber Sparks and 'We Love You, Bunny'". (@ambersparks.bsky.social y.social) www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

In Episode 11, "Jason Diamond and Blurbs" Mason (@stockstill.bsky.social) tells the story of a writer who got a book deal after getting a blurb from Dan Brown. www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

Here is the latest Third Person Limited column on the Pittsburgh Review of Books (@pghreviewofbooks.bsky.social), a review of Ian McEwan's excellent new novel, 'What We Can Know'. pghrev.com/the-beautifu...

Third Person Limited will now be hosted both on our website, and on the Pittsburgh Review of Books (@pghreviewofbooks.bsky.social). PRoB will be posting our podcasts every Tuesday! pghrev.com/third-person...

Third Person Limited is a literary podcast about books and culture with hosts Nathan Pensky and Mason Stockstill. As a recurring feature on our site, an episode of their podcast will be released every Tuesday. Check out Episode 1! @thirdpersonlimited.bsky.social pghrev.com/third-person...

Jason Diamond (@jasondiamond.bsky.social) from Episode 11: www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

Here's Episode 11: "Jason Diamond and Book Blurbs". @jasondiamond.bsky.social www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

@bleakhousing.bsky.social is not wrong here...

In Episode 10, we discuss how much 'Hamlet' is too much? www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

Here's Mason's first column for the Pittsburgh Review of Books, 'Fluid Narratives and Culture Wars'. pghrev.com/fluid-narrat...

Here's Episode 10: "Spooky Season with Kyle Winkler and Faust". (@bleakhousing.bsky.social) www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

“A slippery narrative POV reminds us that storytelling — and hence life, the world, and everything in it — is a muddle of competing and conflicting interpretations.” A new piece by @stockstill.bsky.social of @thirdpersonlimited.bsky.social. pghrev.com/fluid-narrat...

Here's a clip of Kit McGuire reading from their short story, "Pink in the Morning," which you can find here: www.olitmag.com/kit-mcguire-...

Here's a clip of Kelly Magee reading from her short story, "Caring For Your Local Woman," which you can find here: waxwingmag.org/items/issue3...

Here's a clip of Billy Irving reading from his short story, "Little Arlo," which you can find here: xraylitmag.com/little-arlo-...

Here's Kit McGuire's "Pink in the Morning" featured in Episode 9: "Short Stories We Love": www.olitmag.com/kit-mcguire-...

Here's Kelly Magee's "Caring For Your Local Woman" featured in Episode 9: "Short Stories We Love": waxwingmag.org/items/issue3...

Here's Billy Irving's "Little Arlo" featured in Episode 9: "Short Stories We Love": xraylitmag.com/little-arlo-...

Here's Episode 9: "Short Stories We Love". www.thirdpersonlimited.com/episodes/epi...

@stockstill.bsky.social read Silvia Park's 'Luminous' and concluded, if there's something ineffable about humanity, we're going to find that out pretty soon.

Mason really liked Silvia Park's 'Luminous'...