Interested parties would do well to saunter over to Book Riot’s Reading Lives podcast, should they wish to hear an interview with me about reading P.G. Wodehouse for the first time, hating The Mists of Avalon, and getting your copy of the Divine Comedy confiscated at Christian sports camp during a very specific summer.
My guest on this episode is Mallory Ortberg, co-founder of The-Toast.net and author of the forthcoming Texts from Jane Eyre. We talk about reading Wodehouse for the first time, getting your Dante confiscated at church camp, being disappointed with a book that everyone else likes, and much more.
See? I also talk about reading Kierkegaard with my dad at Boston Market, and how I used to steal all his chicken skin while he tried to explain Johannes de silentio (I think I got the better end of the deal, as I ended up with a rather garbled understanding of Christian existentialism but a great deal of chicken skin). It’s a lovely interview; a good time was had by all and you should listen to it.
Tags: book riot, interviews
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“I remember I had a friend who one time got really mad at me, because I would come over to her house and I would just ignore her and read her books”.
It wasn’t just me!!! I would also invite friends over to my house and ignore them and read books.
Maybe not the nicest thing to do, in hindsight.
This makes me feel so much better about merely hiding my friends to read books.
I did that too but it was a Sega Genesis. His Genesis. I am no more worldly than I was before. I have no regrets
I had fewer issues with this, because I had friends who loved to read too, so we would go over to each other’s houses and just spend our time reading.
Ok between you and Andrew Ti is it true that all goofy internet Americans really have deep mellifluous voices?
I am deeply offended on Dante’s behalf without having even heard it.
I think my fantasy-celebrity dinner party would just be having dinner with the Ortbergs because my god, you talked about Christian existentialism with your dad!? That is so not a Dad subject.
Dad Ortberg is a pastor and bestselling author. He’s not your average Dad!
I think my fantasy-celebrity dinner party would just be having dinner with the Ortbergs because my god, you talked about Christian existentialism with your dad!? That is so not a Dad subject.
You know that feeling when someone you really look up to and admire likes and dislikes all the same books you do? Taste validated!
This was a delightful listen for Monday afternoon at the office. Also, my Goodreads to-read list just expanded by a lot.
So glad my brother and I aren’t the only people who literally read joke books
First Wodehouses, everyone?
Mine was Leave It To Psmith.
Code of the Woosters, I think. It’s hard to remember for sure, though.
This was mine, also. It almost doesn’t matter though, given the rate at which I consumed the rest.
Summer Moonshine. Read the line “Whatever may be said in favour of the Victorians, it is pretty generally admitted that few of them were to be trusted within reach of a trowel and a pile of bricks” and fell in love.
Summer Lightning!
Will never tire of the “Mallory and a Pony” image.
I did that too but it was a Sega Genesis. His Genesis. I am no more worldly than I was before. I have no regrets
Come on, Garfield IS the height of comedy.
If you wander back in the direction of Kierkegaard, beware of Johannes Climacus. He’s just there as Kafka’s ice pick straight to the brain.
Is it just me who wants to know so much more about the bed with inbuilt bookshelves? How did I not know this was an option? I’ve just bought a new bed, and may now be regretting my decision.
Oh my God, I read the Clue books too!! They were so wretched/excellent. And also the entire Garfield anthology. All of it the whole thing.
YES TEAM CASSIUS.
YES TEAM CASSIUS.