The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast 107: Goals or Guilt? A Check-in on Our Reading Ambitions
May 29, 2025
They check in on midyear reading ambitions, debating whether goals motivate or create pressure. They talk long-book strategies, pacing for Proust, and savoring big projects. Small-press love and upcoming author-focused reads are teased. There is a playful giveaway game and community reading plans including a novella book club.
01:24:28
Dog Chase Became Bonus Patreon Content
- Paul got chased by a friendly dog during a bonus episode recorded on a walk, which became Patreon-exclusive content.
- Trevor and Paul record many episodes while walking, using those walks to spark focused conversations about reading life.
Beloved Authors Can Reorder Your TBR Instantly
- New releases from beloved authors can reshape reading priorities immediately.
- Paul dropped other plans to read Robert Macfarlane's Is the River Alive? and even sought tickets to his sold-out botanical-gardens event.
Intentionally Read Fewer Books To Slow Down
- Try reading fewer books deliberately if you want to slow down and savor literature.
- Trevor shares his wife's goal to read less so she can read more slowly and enjoy each book without finishing pressure.
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Intro
00:00 • 40sec
Summer mood and Mary Oliver quote
00:40 • 1min
Thanking Patreon supporters
02:05 • 1min
Bonus episodes and walking recordings
03:10 • 1min
Episode focus: checking reading goals
04:39 • 1min
Paul on Robert Macfarlane's new book
06:00 • 6min
Reading habits and mic mishap
11:57 • 2min
McFarlane event and ticket update
13:31 • 1min
Upcoming NYRB Classics episode
14:42 • 2min
Novella book club: Giovanni's Room
16:37 • 37sec
Mark Haber's Deathbed Confessions
17:13 • 4min
Introducing the goals check-in
20:57 • 24sec
Why a midyear goals review matters
21:21 • 3min
Philosophy of reading goals
24:12 • 4min
A different goal: reading less
27:49 • 4min
Proust reading group momentum
32:14 • 4min
Summer reading for the kids
36:03 • 4min
Listener challenge idea
40:20 • 3min
May giveaway winner announced
43:18 • 1min
June giveaway: life-coach book clue
44:21 • 3min
Motivational description of a butler's life
46:51 • 4min
Rules and deadline for giveaway entries
50:28 • 16sec
Checking progress on major goals
50:44 • 1min
Trevor's Proust pacing strategy
52:00 • 2min
Paul's stalled Trollope and McCarthy plans
53:46 • 2min
Trevor's Trollope progress
55:23 • 2min
Daniel Deronda enthusiasm
57:47 • 1min
Long books as living projects
59:17 • 4min
Support for small and independent publishers
01:03:24 • 5min
Paul's 25-and-25 TBR project
01:08:48 • 4min
Travel and book friend meet-ups
01:12:23 • 2min
Reading more from favorite publishers
01:14:21 • 2min
Jane Austen's Bookshelf project
01:16:12 • 1min
Preparing for author-focused episodes
01:17:41 • 1min
Paul's small-press book club
01:18:50 • 3min
Closing thoughts and listener invitation
01:21:52 • 1min
Outro
01:23:09 • 58sec
#
Schattenfroh
Michael Lentz
Schattenfroh by Michael Lentz is an ambitious contemporary work notable for linguistic play and experimental structure, now translated by Max Lawton.
The book blends narrative and lyric elements, challenging readers with unconventional form while exploring themes of memory and perception.
Trevor and Paul plan a future episode dedicated to the book, indicating its significance and complexity.
As with many Archipelago/NYRB-style releases, readers can expect a careful translation and editorial attention.
The hosts note its emotional impact and difficulty, recommending patient, attentive reading.
#
Melvill
Rodrigo Fresan
Will Vanderhyden
Melvill by Rodrigo Fresán is a playful, erudite novel that engages with literary history, particularly Herman Melville, employing metafictional devices and cultural commentary.
Fresán's work often thrills readers who enjoy dense intertextuality and linguistic daring.
The hosts include it among many ambitious and contemporary literary titles they track.
The novel rewards readers familiar with literary references and those who enjoy inventive narrative experiments.
#
Your Absence Is Darkness
Jón Kalman Stefánsson
Philip Roughton
Your Absence Is Darkness is a contemplative novel by Jón Kalman Stefánsson that meditates on loss, longing, and the interplay between humans and the larger natural world.
Stefánsson's prose is often praised for its poetic cadence and emotional resonance, combining mythic elements with intimate human detail.
The hosts include it among a broad list of international literature they follow.
Readers who enjoy lyrical, melancholic fiction and strong sense of place will find it rewarding.
The book reinforces the podcast's interest in translated world literature.
#
The Adventures of China Iron
Gabriela Cabezón Cámara
The Adventures of China Iron reworks Argentine epic and gaucho narratives from a female perspective, offering lyrical reinvention and queer reinterpretation of national myth.
Gabriela Cabezón Cámara blends myth, travel, and poetic prose to create a refreshing retelling that foregrounds marginalized voices.
Paul mentions it as a prompt given by a Discord member to spur his reading choices.
The novel has garnered international praise for its originality and political artistry, appealing to readers interested in innovative world literature.
#
Rhine journey
Ann Schlee
Rhine Journey by Ann Schlee is an evocative novel that utilizes travel and landscape as frameworks for introspection and narrative discovery.
Its restrained prose and attention to place make it suited to readers who appreciate literary travel writing blended with fiction.
Paul indicates he's begun reading it and enjoying the experience, reflecting the podcast's attention to small-press and translated works.
The book's qualities align with the hosts' interests in immersive, contemplative literature.
Rhine Journey offers quiet rewards for readers who savor mood and subtle character study.
#
The White Bear
Paul Larkin
Hendrik Pontoppidan
Henrik Pontoppidan's novella collects themes of late-19th-century Danish society through realist storytelling, reflecting social tensions and character-driven plot.
NYRB Classics is releasing a volume titled The White Bear that includes this novella and another short work (The Rear Guard).
The release highlights Pontoppidan's importance as a Nobel Prize–winning author and brings lesser-known works to contemporary English-speaking readers.
The stories typically combine keen social observation with deep psychological insight into characters' motives and milieus.
The NYRB episode will explore why the press chose to publish Pontoppidan and contextualize these novellas.
#
Deathbed Confessions
Mark Haber
Mark Haber's Deathbed Confessions is a collection of short stories that blend dark humor, eccentric voices, and imaginative premises, as illustrated by its inventive opening 'note to the reader.
' The pieces often adopt distinctive narratorial personae and skew toward the uncanny and the comic.
Trevor and Paul have discussed Haber's fiction previously and received a copy, reading portions on the show.
The collection displays Haber's interest in idiosyncratic characters and baroque language, appealing to readers who enjoy stylistically bold short fiction.
The hosts praise Haber's voice and anticipate completing and discussing the stories further.
#
Omensetter's Luck
William Gass
Omensetter's Luck is William H. Gass's early novel examining the interplay of belief, fate, and community in a small town, rendered in stylistically ambitious prose.
Known for its philosophical bent and careful language, the novel showcases Gass's preoccupation with narrative voice and the power of story.
The book is both a moral fable and an exploration of literary form, influencing later experimental writers.
The hosts list it among many significant and challenging works they read or plan to read.
Readers should expect dense, rewarding prose and thematic complexity.
#
Lies and Sorcery
Elsa Morante
Lies and Sorcery (translated by Jenny McPhee) is a major novel by Elsa Morante that interweaves intimate emotional drama with broader social concerns in mid-20th-century Italy.
Morante's prose is noted for its psychological acuity, mythic undertones, and compassionate portrait of complex characters.
The novel explores themes of love, betrayal, and the ways memory shapes identity, delivered in lush, evocative language.
It has been widely praised in translation for preserving Morante's narrative force and lyrical intensity.
Readers often find it demanding but deeply rewarding, one of Morante's most celebrated works.
#
A touch of mistletoe
Barbara Comyns
A Touch of Mistletoe displays Barbara Comyns's talent for combining domestic detail with uncanny or comic undertones, often set against seasonal backdrops.
The book is lighter in scale but retains Comyns's signature economy of language and offbeat emotional resonance.
Trevor mentions saving it for the holidays, indicating its seasonal appeal.
Comyns's novels are often rediscovered and championed for their unique voice and melancholic humor.
Readers can expect an intimate, quietly strange story with an undercurrent of poignancy.
#
The Duke's children
Anthony Trollope
The Duke's Children continues Trollope's Palliser saga by focusing on the offspring of central figures, exploring expectations, marriage, and public duty in Victorian society.
The novel addresses generational tensions and the social responsibilities borne by aristocratic families.
Trollope's steady pacing and interest in everyday moral decisions foreground interpersonal drama alongside political commentary.
Trevor plans to finish this volume to complete his reading of those Palliser installments.
The book exemplifies Trollope's strengths: satire tempered by sympathy and precise social observation.
#26240
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Jane Austen's Bookshelf
A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend
Rebecca Romney
#796
• Mentioned in 45 episodes
In Search of Lost Time
Swann's Way
Stephane Heuet
Marcel Proust
This graphic adaptation of Marcel Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time' presents the first volume, 'Swann's Way', in a compressed and visually engaging format.
The adaptation, likened to a 'piano reduction of an orchestral score', retains the fundamental architecture and themes of Proust’s work, including time, art, and the elusiveness of memory.
Stéphane Heuet's detailed illustrations bring to life the narrator Marcel's childhood memories in Combray, capturing the humor, wit, and memorable characters of Proust's original text.
This adaptation is designed to make Proust's work more accessible while maintaining its essence and beauty.
#21159
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
The summer book
Elizabeth Gundrey
The Summer Book by Elizabeth Gundrey is an activity book published in 1974, aimed at providing engaging activities for children during the summer.
It contains a variety of exercises and games to keep young minds active and entertained.
#
Miss Macintosh, My Darling
Margaret Millar
#17902
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
On the Calculation of Volume, Volume 1
Solveig Birkeland
No information available.
#460
• Mentioned in 67 episodes
Blood Meridian
Or, The Evening Redness in the West
Cormac McCarthy
Blood Meridian is a historical novel that depicts the brutal reality of the American West in the mid-19th century.
The story follows a 14-year-old runaway from Tennessee, known as 'the kid', who joins the Glanton gang, a historical group of scalp hunters.
The gang, led by John Joel Glanton and the enigmatic Judge Holden, is contracted to kill and scalp Native Americans but soon devolves into indiscriminate violence against various groups.
The novel explores themes of brutality, the loss of innocence, and the harsh realities of human nature, with Judge Holden serving as a central figure embodying philosophical and sadistic elements.
The book is known for its unflinching portrayal of violence and its allegorical exploration of human existence.
#13189
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
In the Waves
Rachel "Big Spinach" Lance
string
#9534
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
The Buried Giant
Kazuo Ishiguro
David Horovitch
The Buried Giant is set in a mythical post-Arthurian England, where a strange mist causes widespread forgetfulness.
The story follows Axl and Beatrice, an elderly couple, as they embark on a journey to visit their son who lives in a distant village.
Along the way, they encounter various characters, including Saxon warriors, monks, and figures from Arthurian legend.
The novel delves into themes of memory, love, and the consequences of forgetting the past, highlighting the complexities of human nature and the dangers of ignorance.
It blends elements of fantasy, historical fiction, and philosophical reflection to create a narrative that is both a tender love story and a profound exploration of collective memory and its impact on society.
#
Blinding
Kurt Orescu
#
Mr. Fox
Helen Oyeyemi
Mr.
Fox is a novel by Helen Oyeyemi that explores the complex relationships between a writer, his muse, and his wife.
The story delves into themes of creativity, gender dynamics, and the power of storytelling, blending elements of magical realism and metafiction.
Through the character of Mary Foxe, Oyeyemi critiques the tradition of male authors killing off female characters, highlighting issues of misogyny and narrative control.
#73032
Herscht 07769
László Krasznahorkai
Ottilie Mulzet
László Krasznahorkai's 'Herscht 07769' is characterized by its dense prose, complex themes, and experimental narrative structure.
The novel delves into the intricacies of human existence, exploring themes of alienation, despair, and the search for meaning.
Krasznahorkai's signature style involves long, winding sentences that can span entire pages, creating a sense of overwhelming immersion for the reader.
His works often feature characters grappling with existential crises in bleak and desolate landscapes.
The narrative challenges readers to confront profound questions about the nature of reality and the human condition.
Krasznahorkai’s unique approach to storytelling has established him as a significant voice in contemporary literature.
#
A fortunate man
John Berger
Jean Mohr
A Fortunate Man is a book by John Berger and Jean Mohr that tells the story of Dr. John Sassall, a general practitioner in the Forest of Dean.
The book uses a combination of text and photography to portray Sassall's life and work, offering insights into the challenges and rewards of providing medical care in a rural community.
It explores themes of social class, healthcare access, and the human condition.
The book's unique approach to storytelling makes it a compelling read for anyone interested in medicine, social issues, or the art of biography.
The book's impact on Sassall's life and career is also discussed, highlighting the power of storytelling to shape perceptions and inspire change.
#1550
• Mentioned in 28 episodes
The Remains of the Day
Kazuo Ishiguro
The Remains of the Day is a novel told through the first-person narration of Stevens, a long-serving butler at Darlington Hall.
In the summer of 1956, Stevens embarks on a six-day motoring trip through the West Country, which becomes a journey into his past.
The novel explores Stevens' memories of his service during and after World War II, his relationship with the former housekeeper Miss Kenton, and the decline of the English aristocracy.
It delves into themes of regret, repression, and the consequences of dedicating one's life to professional duty at the expense of personal happiness.
The story is a poignant reflection on the passage of time, the reliability of memory, and the human cost of maintaining a rigid professional persona.
#15233
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The prime minister
Anthony Trollope
The Prime Minister, the fifth novel in Anthony Trollope's Palliser series, delves into the intricacies of British politics and societal norms of the Victorian era.
The story centers around Plantagenet Palliser, the Duke of Omnium, who reluctantly accepts the role of Prime Minister in a coalition government.
The novel highlights his struggles with the demands of high office and his inflexible nature.
A significant subplot involves Ferdinand Lopez, a financially troubled and morally dubious speculator who marries Emily Wharton against her father's wishes.
Lopez's ambitions and financial misadventures lead to a tragic conclusion, while Emily eventually finds happiness with Arthur Fletcher.
The novel also explores themes of political expediency, marital relationships, and the societal constraints faced by women during that period.
#21344
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
The Unconsoled
Kazuo Ishiguro
Kazuo Ishiguro's *The Unconsoled* is a unique novel characterized by its dreamlike atmosphere and fragmented narrative.
The story follows Ryder, a concert pianist who finds himself in an unfamiliar city, encountering a series of enigmatic characters and surreal events.
The novel explores themes of identity, memory, and the nature of reality.
Ishiguro's masterful use of language and imagery creates a sense of unease and disorientation, leaving the reader questioning the boundaries between dream and reality.
The novel's unconventional structure and ambiguous ending invite multiple interpretations.
#342
• Mentioned in 82 episodes
Middlemarch
George Eliot
Middlemarch, written by George Eliot, is a novel that delves into the complexities of provincial life in 19th-century England.
The story revolves around the intersecting lives of its characters, particularly Dorothea Brooke and Dr. Tertius Lydgate, as they navigate marriage, vocation, and social class.
Eliot critiques the conventional romance narratives of her time by portraying marriage as a complex and often problematic institution.
The novel also explores themes of idealism, self-interest, hypocrisy, and the constraints on women's lives.
Set in the fictional town of Middlemarch between 1829 and 1832, the novel incorporates historical events such as the Great Reform Act of 1832 and early developments in medicine.
Eliot's realistic portrayal of ordinary human life, with its quiet tragedies and small triumphs, has made 'Middlemarch' a masterpiece of English literature.
#1984
• Mentioned in 23 episodes
Never Let Me Go
Kazuo Ishiguro
The novel is set in a dystopian England where cloning technology allows for the mass production of organ donors.
The story is narrated by Kathy, a clone who works as a 'carer' for other donors.
Kathy reflects on her upbringing at Hailsham, a boarding school for clones, and her relationships with her friends Ruth and Tommy.
As the narrative unfolds, it reveals the grim reality of the clones' existence: they are raised to donate their organs until they 'complete' (die).
The book explores themes of identity, humanity, and the moral implications of scientific advancements, raising questions about the treatment of the vulnerable and the nature of human existence.
#22650
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
A Pale View of Hills
Kazuo Ishiguro
A Pale View of Hills is Kazuo Ishiguro's first novel, published in 1982.
It tells the story of Etsuko, a middle-aged Japanese woman living in England, who reflects on her past and the recent suicide of her daughter Keiko.
The novel explores themes of memory, identity, and the complexities of human emotions, set against the backdrop of post-war Japan and England.
#12598
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Evelina
or, The History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World
Frances Burney
In 'Evelina', Frances Burney crafts a vivid and satirical account of late 18th-century London society through the eyes of its protagonist, Evelina Anville.
The novel follows Evelina's journey as she navigates the complexities of high society, encountering various characters that reflect the social norms and excesses of the time.
It is both a commentary on the societal pressures faced by women and a love story, with Evelina attracting the attention of the charming Lord Orville.
#2202
• Mentioned in 21 episodes
The magic mountain
Thomas Mann
The Magic Mountain is a novel by Thomas Mann, published in 1924.
It follows the story of Hans Castorp, a young man from a Hamburg merchant family, who visits his tubercular cousin Joachim at a sanatorium in Davos, Switzerland.
Initially planning to stay for three weeks, Castorp ends up staying for seven years, immersing himself in the unique world of the sanatorium.
The novel delves into themes of time, illness, and the intellectual and philosophical debates of the pre-World War I era.
It is a parable of Europe before the Great War and a prophecy of the future, highlighting the decline of European civilization and the rise of irrational and destructive forces.
The narrative is characterized by Mann's ironic and omniscient storytelling, exploring the human condition through Castorp's experiences and the diverse characters he encounters at the sanatorium.
#3175
• Mentioned in 15 episodes
Giovanni's Room
James Baldwin
Published in 1956, 'Giovanni's Room' is a groundbreaking novel by James Baldwin that delves into the life of David, a young American expatriate in Paris.
David is caught between his desire for Giovanni, an Italian bartender, and his engagement to Hella, an American woman.
The novel explores themes of love, shame, guilt, and the internal conflicts that arise from societal expectations and personal identity.
As David navigates his relationships and grapples with his sexuality, the story unfolds into a tragic confrontation with the consequences of his choices and the unspoken complexities of the human heart.
#
The Ice-Shirt
William T. Vollmann
The Ice-Shirt is William Vollmann's epic opening to the Seven Dreams sequence, dramatizing Norse exploration and encounters in North America through a blend of myth, history, and imaginative reconstruction.
Vollmann employs multiple narrative strategies—documentary, lyrical, and dramatic—to evoke cultural collisions and spiritual dislocation.
The book emphasizes the strangeness of contact across cultures, reworking sagas and archival material into a modern literary epic.
Its dense research and stylistic range establish the project's ambitious aims to chronicle contested histories of North America.
The volume is often praised for its immersive scope and moral intensity.
#1876
• Mentioned in 24 episodes
Mrs. Dalloway
Virginia Woolf
Published in 1925, 'Mrs.
Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf explores the lives of its characters over a single day in post-World War I London.
The novel centers around Clarissa Dalloway, an upper-class housewife, as she prepares to host a party.
Her day is punctuated by a visit from Peter Walsh, an old suitor, and her reflections on her past choices.
The narrative also follows Septimus Warren Smith, a veteran struggling with shell shock and mental illness, whose story parallels and contrasts with Clarissa's.
The novel delves into themes of time, identity, social class, and the psychological impacts of war.
Woolf's stream-of-consciousness style provides a deep insight into the characters' inner lives, highlighting the complexities of human experience and the societal norms of the time.
#41
• Mentioned in 279 episodes
Moby Dick
Herman Melville
Moby-Dick is a novel that tells the story of Captain Ahab's maniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg.
Narrated by Ishmael, the story follows the crew of the whaling ship Pequod as they embark on a journey that explores themes of obsession, man vs.
nature, and the existential questions of good and evil.
The novel is rich in detailed descriptions of whale hunting and life aboard a culturally diverse crew, and it has become a cornerstone of American and world literature.
#1949
• Mentioned in 23 episodes
To the Lighthouse
Virginia Woolf
To the Lighthouse, published in 1927, is a groundbreaking work of modernist literature by Virginia Woolf.
The novel is divided into three sections: 'The Window,' 'Time Passes,' and 'The Lighthouse.
' It follows the Ramsay family during their summer visits to the Isle of Skye, delving into the inner thoughts and emotions of the characters through stream-of-consciousness techniques.
The novel reflects the impact of World War I on the family and society, and it explores themes such as loss, subjectivity, the nature of art, and the problem of perception.
Woolf's intricate prose and rich exploration of consciousness make this novel a masterpiece of world literature.
#16264
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Suttree
Cormac McCarthy
Cormac McCarthy's 'Suttree' is a sprawling and atmospheric novel set in 1950s Knoxville, Tennessee.
The novel follows the life of Cornelius Suttree, a drifter and outsider who navigates the city's underbelly.
McCarthy's prose is characterized by its stark beauty, lyrical descriptions, and its exploration of themes of alienation, isolation, and the search for meaning.
'Suttree' is a challenging but rewarding read, offering a glimpse into the lives of those living on the margins of society.
The novel's impact extends beyond its literary merit, influencing generations of writers and artists.
#3302
• Mentioned in 15 episodes
Is a River Alive?
Robert Macfarlane
#8612
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Daniel Deronda
George Eliot
Published in 1876, 'Daniel Deronda' is George Eliot's final novel and a thought-provoking exploration of love, identity, and society.
The story follows the lives of Gwendolen Harleth, a beautiful but spoiled and selfish young woman, and Daniel Deronda, a selfless and alienated man searching for his true origins.
The novel delves into the complexities of Victorian society, including imperialism, the oppression of women, and racial and religious prejudice.
Daniel's journey leads him to discover his Jewish heritage and become deeply involved in the nascent Zionist cause, while Gwendolen navigates a troubled marriage and seeks redemption.
The novel is notable for its sympathetic portrayal of Jewish culture and its critique of antisemitism, making it a radical and controversial work in its time.
#74108
The Sunlit Man
Brandon Sanderson
In this episode, Paul and Trevor check in on our 2025 reading goals—where we’ve succeeded, where we’ve faltered, and most importantly how our goals are impacting our reading experience. Are we setting ourselves up for success, or are we creating unnecessary pressure? We dive into the positives and potentials pitfalls of reading ambitions, exploring what’s working for us. Tune in for a reflective conversation on how to make reading goals meaningful.
Plus, we announce the winner of our May giveaway and reveal our June giveaway challenge with another silly performance!
We’ve got some fantastic author-focused episodes lined up for the foreseeable future, and we want to give you plenty of time to dive in if you’d like to read along with us. These episodes come around every ten episodes, and with our bi-weekly release schedule, you'll have a few months to get ready for each. Here’s what we have in store:
* Episode 115: Kazuo Ishiguro
* Episode 125: Flannery O’Connor
* Episode 135: William Faulkner
* Episode 145: Elizabeth Taylor
* Episode 155: Naguib Mahfouz
There’s no rush—take your time, and grab a book (or two, or three) so you’re prepared for these as they come!
Join the Mookse and the Gripes on Discord
Want to share your thoughts on these upcoming authors or anything else we’re discussing? Join us over on Discord! It’s the perfect place to dive deeper into the conversation—whether you’re reading along with our author-focused episodes or just want to chat about the books that are on your mind.
We’re also gearing up for our second novella book club, where we'll be reading Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin at the start of July. It’s a fantastic book, and we’d love to have you join the discussion. It’s a great space to engage with fellow listeners, share your insights, and discover new perspectives on the books you’re reading.
Shownotes
Books
* Is a River Alive?, by Robert Macfarlane
* The White Bear, by Henrik Pontoppidan, translated by Paul Larkin
* A Fortunate Man, by Henrik Pontoppidan, translated by Paul Larkin
* Giovanni’s Room, by James Baldwin
* Deathbed Confessions, by Mark Haber
* Middlemarch, by George Eliot
* Miss MacIntosh, My Darling, by Marguerite Young
* Lies and Sorcery, by Elsa Morante, translated by Jenny McPhee
* In Search of Lost Time, by Marcel Proust
* The Sunlit Man, by Brandon Sanderson
* Suttree, by Cormac McCarthy
* Blood Meridian; or, The Evening Redness in the West, by Cormac McCarthy
* The Prime Minister, by Anthony Trollope
* The Duke’s Children, by Anthony Trollope
* The Way We Live Now, by Anthony Trollope
* Daniel Deronda, by George Eliot
* Schattenfroh, by Michael Lentz, translated by Max Lawton
* Blinding, by Mircea Cărtărescu, translated by Sean Cotter
* Omensetter’s Luck, by William H. Gass
* Herscht 07769, by Lászlo Krasznahorkai, translated by Ottilie Mulzet
* Moby Dick, by Herman Melville
* Mr. Fox, by Barbara Comyns
* A Touch of Mistletoe, by Barbara Comyns
* Melvill, by Rodrigo Fresán, translated by Will Vanderhyden
* On the Calculation of Volume, I, by Solvej Balle, translated by Barbara J. Haveland
* The Ice-Shirt, by William T. Vollmann
* The Magic Mountain, by Thomas Mann, translated by John E. Woods
* Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf
* To the Lighthouse, by Virginia Woolf
* The Waves, by Virginia Woolf
* The Adventures of China Iron, by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, translated by Fiona Mackintosh and Iona Macintyre
* Rhine Journey, by Ann Schlee
* Jane Austen’s Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector’s Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend, by Rebecca Romney
* Evelina, by Frances Burney
* The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro
* Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro
* The Unconsoled, by Kazuo Ishiguro
* The Buried Giant, by Kazuo Ishiguro
* A Pale View of Hills, by Kazuo Ishiguro
* Your Absence Is Darkness, by Jón Kalman Stefánsson, translated by Philip Roughton
* The Summer Book, by Tove Jansson, translated by Thomas Teal
The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast is a bookish conversation hosted by Paul and Trevor. Every other week, we explore a bookish topic and celebrate our love of reading. We’re glad you’re here, and we hope you’ll continue to join us on this literary journey!
A huge thank you to those who help make this podcast possible! If you'd like to support us, you can do so via Substack or Patreon. Subscribers receive access to periodic bonus episodes and early access to all new episodes. Plus, each supporter gets their own dedicated feed, allowing them to download episodes a few days before they’re released to the public. We’d love for you to check it out!
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