The History of Literature 753 Tenth-Anniversary Special (with Mike Palindrome and Laurie Frankel) | Giving Thanks | My Last Book with Eve Dunbar
Nov 26, 2025
Laurie Frankel, a novelist known for her insightful stories, shares details about her upcoming novel, Enormous Wings, featuring a surprising twist involving a 77-year-old woman's unexpected pregnancy. Mike Palindrome, a reading organizer, talks about engaging slow-read projects focused on classic literature from 1965-1975. They discuss the cultural climate of that decade, making recommendations like A.L. Doctorow's Ragtime and Flannery O'Connor's short stories. The episode reflects on gratitude and the rich literary landscape shaped by these transformative years.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Why A 50-Year Cutoff Matters
- Jacke explains the podcast's 50-year rule to ensure books have historical reception to analyze.
- He moved the eligibility wall forward ten years after the show's tenth anniversary to include 1965–1975 works.
Discovering Ragtime Late But Loud
- Laurie recounts finally reading A.L. Doctorow's Ragtime (1975) and recommending it widely after loving its distinctive, timeless style.
- She notes its Broadway musical adaptation surprised her given the novel's unconventional form.
Deliverance: Poetry Turned Thriller
- Mike recommends Deliverance by James Dickey and praises its thrilling prose and poetic authorial background.
- He highlights the novel's handling of class and its appeal as both literary and suspenseful.
