The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast Episode 66: Reading Habits
They trade stories about when and where they read, from commutes and stolen moments to family routines. They talk strategies for pacing big books, juggling audiobooks and physical pages, and photographing text for reading on the go. They also explore rituals, music, online book communities, and how podcasting reshaped their reading choices.
01:19:50
Carve Reading Into Small Daily Chunks
- Make reading part of daily life by stealing small chunks (commute, lunch, hammock) rather than waiting for long uninterrupted blocks.
- Paul listens to audiobooks during commutes, reads before bed, and sneaks 10–45 minute sessions at work or outside.
Postponed Guest Due To Illness
- Trevor and Paul postponed a planned guest episode because the guest from Australia was ill and they'd rather wait for him to be well.
- They kept the episode slot and adjusted content, showing flexibility in scheduling around guests.
Recommendation For A Dark Claustrophobic Novel
- Paul praised Lojman by Ebru Ojen as a claustrophobic, dread-filled novel and part of his Republic of Consciousness prize reading.
- He recommends it for readers who like intense psychological, isolated-family narratives.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Choosing Guest and Episode Changes
02:41 • 1min
Previewing Guest Picks and Preparation
03:51 • 1min
Paul's Recent Reads and Prize Work
05:19 • 2min
Jhumpa Lahiri's Roman Stories
07:23 • 4min
Trevor on James McBride's New Novel
11:03 • 3min
Discussing Deacon King Kong and Booker Attention
14:31 • 57sec
Patreon, Substack, and Supporting the Show
15:28 • 2min
Introducing the Topic: Reading Habits
17:28 • 2min
How Paul Reads So Much
19:38 • 2min
Trevor's Reading Routine and Origins
22:00 • 4min
Carrying Books and Phone Photos Strategy
25:44 • 2min
Reading as Centering, Not Addiction
28:00 • 3min
Best Times to Read Daily
31:16 • 4min
Reading Together and Family Habits
35:25 • 7min
Projects, Goals, and Avoiding Pressure
42:34 • 8min
Pacing Large Books and Daily Chapters
50:12 • 3min
When to Read in Big Gulps
53:21 • 5min
Social Media, Forums, and Reading Communities
58:37 • 5min
Podcast Impact on Reading Habits
01:03:21 • 4min
Seasonal Rituals and Amplifying Reading Joy
01:07:48 • 5min
Music and Soundtracks for Reading
01:13:14 • 4min
Wrapping Up Reading Habits Conversation
01:17:35 • 35sec
Outro
01:18:10 • 1min
#97713
Lojman
Ebru Ojen
#32739
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Story of Her Life
Autobiography
St Teresa of Avila
In "The Story of Her Life," St. Teresa of Avila recounts her spiritual journey with remarkable honesty and humor.
She details her early life, struggles with worldly desires, and eventual profound conversion.
The book offers insights into her mystical experiences, using relatable analogies to explain complex spiritual concepts.
It's a testament to her unwavering faith and dedication to prayer, inspiring readers to deepen their own relationship with God. Her candid portrayal of her imperfections makes her a relatable figure for those struggling with spiritual dryness or doubt.
#93
• Mentioned in 189 episodes
The Brothers Karamazov
Larissa Volokhonsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Richard Pevear
Set in 19th-century Russia, 'The Brothers Karamazov' is a novel that delves into the lives of the Karamazov family, focusing on the three brothers—Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha—and their complex relationships with their father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov.
The novel is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry, faith, doubt, and reason.
It examines the human psyche, moral dilemmas, and the search for meaning in a world fraught with suffering and uncertainty.
The story revolves around the murder of Fyodor Pavlovich and the subsequent trial of Dmitri, accused of the crime, while exploring deeper themes of Russian life, social and spiritual striving, and the clash between faith and reason.
#72
• Mentioned in 224 episodes
War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, 'War and Peace' follows the lives of several Russian aristocratic families, including the Bezukhovs, the Rostovs, and the Bolkonskys.
The novel spans from 1805 to 1820 and is known for its realistic detail and psychological analysis.
It explores the impact of Napoleon's invasion of Russia on the characters and society, delving into themes of love, family, war, and personal growth.
The novel includes historical events such as the Battle of Austerlitz, the Treaties of Tilsit, and the French invasion of Russia, intertwining historical and fictional elements.
#6804
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
The year of reading dangerously
Andy Miller
#14790
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Joseph and his brothers
Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann's 'Joseph and His Brothers' is a tetralogy that expands on the biblical narrative of Joseph.
The story is divided into four parts: 'The Stories of Jacob', 'Young Joseph', 'Joseph in Egypt', and 'Joseph the Provider'.
Mann delves deeply into the psychological motivations and emotional lives of the characters, particularly Joseph, his father Jacob, and his brothers.
The novel explores themes of family, jealousy, forgiveness, and the divine plan, set against the backdrop of ancient civilizations in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Palestine.
The narrative is known for its detailed and persuasive depiction of the characters' world, blending humor, emotion, and epic grandeur.
#15195
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Good Lord Bird
James McBride
The Good Lord Bird is an absorbing mixture of history and imagination, told through the meticulous eye for detail and character of James McBride.
The novel follows Henry Shackleford, a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1857, who is forced to leave town with the legendary abolitionist John Brown after a violent encounter.
Believing Henry to be a girl, Brown nicknames him 'Little Onion.
' Over the ensuing months, Henry conceals his true identity as he struggles to stay alive and eventually finds himself involved in the historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859, a pivotal event leading to the American Civil War. The book is a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity, survival, and the complexities of John Brown's character, portrayed with both sympathy and realism.
#30874
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Roman Stories
Jhumpa Lahiri
Written by Jhumpa Lahiri in Italian, 'Roman Stories' explores the lives of various characters in Rome without explicitly marking their racial, national, or ethnic identities.
The narratives delve into their experiences, relationships, and struggles within the urban landscape of Rome.
Lahiri's collection offers a nuanced portrayal of contemporary life in Italy through the lens of personal stories.
The book invites readers to contemplate the intersections of identity, place, and belonging in an increasingly globalized world.
Through vivid prose, Lahiri captures the essence of Roman life and its impact on the characters' journeys of self-discovery and connection.
#74194
The Sunlit Man
Brandon Sanderson
#94746
Deacon King Kong
James McBride
In 'Deacon King Kong', James McBride tells the story of Cuffy 'Sportcoat' Lambkin, a 71-year-old deacon who shoots Deems Clemens, a young drug dealer, in the courtyard of the Cause Houses housing project in south Brooklyn.
The novel delves into the lives of the characters affected by the shooting, including the African-American and Latinx residents, white neighbors, local cops, and members of the Five Ends Baptist Church.
As the story unfolds, it reveals the complex web of relationships and the profound impact of the shooting on the community, highlighting themes of love, faith, and the interconnectedness of lives in a tumultuous 1960s New York City.
#8493
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Stay True
Hua Hsu
Stay True is a poignant memoir by Hua Hsu that delves into his unlikely friendship with Ken, a Japanese-American college friend whose life was tragically cut short.
The book explores themes of identity, belonging, and the power of friendship in shaping one's life.
It is a coming-of-age story that navigates the complexities of growing up and finding meaning in a world that often seems indifferent.
#33979
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
James McBride
James McBride's 'The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store' intricately weaves together the lives of Black and Jewish residents in Chicken Hill, Pennsylvania, during the 1920s and 1930s.
The novel explores themes of community, identity, and the challenges faced by marginalized groups.
Amidst the backdrop of a segregated society, the residents of Chicken Hill form deep bonds and navigate cultural differences.
When a young deaf boy is hidden to protect him, the secrets and tensions within the community begin to unravel.
McBride's storytelling celebrates the resilience and humanity of those who find solace and strength in one another.
#23087
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Red Comet
The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath
Heather Clark
Do you read in the morning or at night? Do you read while walking? With music? Do you read more than one book at a time?
In this episode Trevor and Paul look at their reading habits to see what things they’ve come up with to feed the reading hound.
We would love to know your reading habits as well! Please share with us!
Shownotes
Books
* Lojman, by Ebru Ojen, translated by Aron Aji and Selin Gökçesu
* Roman Stories, by Jhumpa Lahiri, translated by the author and Todd Portnowitz
* The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride
* The Good Lord Bird, by James McBride
* Deacon King Kong, by James McBride
* The Story of a Life, by Konstantin Paustovsky, translated by Doug Smith
* War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy, translated by Anthony Briggs
* The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, translated by Michael R. Katz
* The Year of Reading Dangerously: How Fifty Great Books Saved My Life, by Andy Miller
* Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath, by Heather Clark
* Stay True, by Hua Hsu
* Joseph and His Brothers, by Thomas Mann, translated by John E. Woods
* The Sunlit Man, by Brandon Sanderson
About the Podcast
The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast is a book chat podcast. Every other week Paul and Trevor get together to talk about some bookish topic or another.
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