The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast

For the second installment in our series on the three pieces of a book, we turn from beginnings to that more difficult territory: the middle. What happens in the middle of a book? Is it simply the space connecting a strong opening to a satisfying ending? In this episode we explore the experience of living inside a book: development, repetition, immersion, wandering, pressure, rhythm. This feels like the space where the book does its work. We discuss the middles of sprawling novels as well short stories, asking what middles do and why thinking about this has helped us become less reactive and more attentive readers.2026 Novella Book ClubWe have announced the four novellas we will be reading for The Mookse and Gripes Novella Book Club in 2026!* January: Daisy Miller, by Henry James* April: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira* July: The Hour of the Star, by Clarice Lispector* September: Prelude, by Katherine MansfieldDiscussions will be hosted at The Mookse and the Gripes Discord (see below!).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 135: William Faulkner* Episode 145: Elizabeth Taylor* Episode 155: Naguib Mahfouz* Episode 165: Annie Ernaux* Episode 175: Henry JamesThere’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 DiscordWant 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 just about to read the second novella book club book of 2026: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira, translated by Chris Andrews. 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* In Trees: An Exploration, by Robert Moor* On Trails: An Exploration, by Robert Moore* If This Be Magic: The Unlikely Art of Shakespeare in Translation, by Daniel Hahn* A General Theory of Oblivion, by José Eduardo Agualusa, translated by Daniel Hahn* Catching Fire: A Translation Diary, by Daniel Hahn* The Unconsoled, by Kazuo Ishiguro* 2666, by Roberto Bolaño, translated by Natasha Wimmer* In Search of Lost Time, by Marcel Proust* Middlemarch, by George Eliot* Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry* First Love, by Ivan Turgenev* Giovanni’s Room, by James Baldwin* The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, by Muriel Spark* Daisy Miller, by Henry James* An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira, translated by Chris Andrews* Train Dreams, by Denis Johnson* Effingers, by Gabriele Tergit, translated by Sophie Duvernoy* To the Lighthouse, by Virginia Woolf* “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” by Flannery O’Connor* Reinhardt’s Garden, by Mark Haber* Lesser Ruins, by Mark Haber* Ada, by Mark Haber* Ducks, Newburyport, by Lucy Ellmann* Moby-Dick: or, The Whale, by Herman Melville* If on a winter’s night a traveler, by Italo Calvino, translated by William Weaver* Pale Fire, by Vladimir Nabokov* Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell* House of Leaves, by Mark Z. Danielewski* Audition, by Katie Kitamura* Transcription, by Ben Lerner* 2666, by Roberto Bolaño, translated by Natasha Wimmer* Like a Cat Loves a Bird: The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark, by James Bailey* Absalom, Absalom!, by William Faulkner* The Sound and the Fury, by William Faulkner* Light in August, by William Faulkner* As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner* The Hour of the Star, by Clarice LispectorThe 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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we’re joined by Nick During and Abigail Dunn from New York Review Books for a wide-ranging conversation about the world of NYRB. From Classics to Kids, Comics to Poets, we explore what gives these books their distinct spirit and why so many readers find themselves returning to those familiar spines again and again.Along the way, we talk about recent releases, a few titles currently on our nightstands, and some of the surprises that come with bringing books back into print. It’s a conversation about discovery, rediscovery, and the quiet pleasure of finding the right book at the right time. Plus, they shed some light on some surprises on the horizon!2026 Novella Book ClubWe have announced the four novellas we will be reading for The Mookse and Gripes Novella Book Club in 2026!* January: Daisy Miller, by Henry James* April: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira* July: The Hour of the Star, by Clarice Lispector* September: Prelude, by Katherine MansfieldDiscussions will be hosted at The Mookse and the Gripes Discord (see below!).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 135: William Faulkner* Episode 145: Elizabeth Taylor* Episode 155: Naguib Mahfouz* Episode 165: Annie Ernaux* Episode 175: Henry JamesThere’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 DiscordWant 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 just about to read the second novella book club book of 2026: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira, translated by Chris Andrews. 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* East of Dreams, by Nastassja Martin* In the Eye of the Wild, by Nastassja Martin* The Death of a Greek Lover, by David Plante* Difficult Women: A Memoir of Three, by David Plante* Too L.A.: Letters Never Sent (But Some Were), by Eve Babitz* Jesus Christs, by A.J. Langguth* Effingers, by Gabriele Tergit, translated by Sophie Duvernoy* Käsebier Takes Berlin, by Gabriele Tergit, translated by Sophie Duvernoy* Things in Nature Merely Grow, by Yiyun Li* Crazy Genie, by Inès Cagnati, translated by Liesl Schillinger* Light While There Is Light: An American History, by Keith Waldrop* “The Old Forest,” by Peter Taylor* The Netanyahus, by Joshua Cohen* Onward and Upward in the Garden, by Katharine S. White* Divorcing, by Susan Taubes* Lament for Julia, by Susan Taubes* Free Day, by Inès Cagnati, translated by Liesl Schillinger* Family Lexicon, by Natalia Ginzburg, translated by Jenny McPhee* Valentino & Sagittarius, by Natalia Ginzburg, translated by Avril Bardoni* Lies and Sorcery, by Elsa Morante, translated by Jenny McPhee* Pittsburgh, by Frank Santoro* Proper Doctoring: A Book for Patients and Their Doctors, by David Mendel* Shakespeare’s Montaigne: The Florio Translation* Proensa: An Anthology of Troubadour Poetry, selected and translated by Paul Blackburn* The Interior Landscape: Classical Tamil Love Poems, translated by A.K. Ramanujan* After Lorca, by Jack Spicer* A Woman of Thirty, by Honoré de Balzac, translated by Jeanine Herman* Turtle Diary, by Russell Hoban* The Marzipan Pig, by Russell Hoban* Château Rouge, by Amit Chaudhuri* First Love, by Gwendolyn Riley* My Phantoms, by Gwendolyn Riley* The Palm House, by Gwendolyn Riley* Memories of the Future, by Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky, translated by Joanne Turnbull* Smoke, by Ivan Turgenev, translated by Donald Rayfield* Diary Without Vowels, by Aleksander Wat, translated by Alissa Valles* The Lord, by Soraya Antonius* Where the Djinn Consult, by Soraya Antonius* Levitations, by Easton Smith* Bristol, by Jean Echenoz, translated by Mark Polizzotti* Command Performance, by Jean Echenoz, translated by Mark Polizzotti* Bina: A Novel in Warnings, by Anakana Schofield* Library of Brothel, by Anakana Schofield* I Liked Rex, by Diane Williams* The Kingdom of Agamemnon, by Vladimir Sharov, translated by Oliver Ready* Borges, by Adolfo Bioy Casares, translated by Valerie Miles* Morel’s Invention, by Adolfo Bioy Casares, translated by Margaret Jull Costa* Zama, by Antonio Di Benedetto, translated by Esther Allen* The Silentiary, by Antonio Di Benedetto, translated by Esther Allen* The Suicides, by Antonio Di Benedetto, translated by Esther Allen* Bomarzo, by Manuel Mujica Lainez, translated by Gregory Rabassa* Life and Fate, by Vasily Grossman, translated by Robert Chandler* Blood Dark, by Louis Guilloux, translated by Laura Marris* An African in Greenland, by Tete-Michel Kpomassie, translated by James Kirkup* A High Wind in Jamaica, by Richard Hughes* Max Havelaar: Or, the Coffee Auctions of The Dutch Trading Company, by Multatuli, translated by Ina Rilke and David McKay* The Enchanted April, by Elizabeth von Arnim* Woman Running in the Mountains, by Yūko Tsushima, translated by Geraldine Harcourt* The Culling Time, by Yūko Tsushima, translated by Dennis Washburn* Loved and Missed, by Susie Boyt* The Sweet Dove Died, by Barbara Pym* Memoirs from Beyond the Grave, by François-Réne de Chateaubriand, translated by Alex Andriesse* The Story of a Life, by Konstantin Paustovsky, translated by Douglas SmithThe 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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we’re joined by Luis Panini to talk about reading projects. What are they? Why do we take them on? What happens when we do? From reading an author’s work in careful chronological order to following looser themes and curiosities, we explore the ways readers give shape to their reading lives. Along the way, we consider the appeal of structure, the pull of serendipity, and the tension between encountering a book on its own terms and seeing it as part of a larger pattern.As always, we’re less interested in prescribing a “right” way to read than in exploring the possibilities. Whether you’re a devoted project reader or someone who prefers to follow whatever book calls out next, we hope this conversation offers something to enjoy.Find Luis on Instagram here.2026 Novella Book ClubWe have announced the four novellas we will be reading for The Mookse and Gripes Novella Book Club in 2026!* January: Daisy Miller, by Henry James* April: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira* July: The Hour of the Star, by Clarice Lispector* September: Prelude, by Katherine MansfieldDiscussions will be hosted at The Mookse and the Gripes Discord (see below!).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 135: William Faulkner* Episode 145: Elizabeth Taylor* Episode 155: Naguib Mahfouz* Episode 165: Annie Ernaux* Episode 175: Henry JamesThere’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 DiscordWant 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 just about to read the second novella book club book of 2026: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira, translated by Chris Andrews. 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.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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe

We tend to think of books as belonging somewhere: novel, memoir, biography, fantasy, history. Genre gives us orientation and sets expectations. In this episode Trevor and Paul are joined by Rebeccas Hussey of One Bright Book to talk about books that blur boundaries and resist easy classification. Are these books resisting genre? Or are they resisting certainty itself?Please make sure to check out One Bright Book Podcast as well!2026 Novella Book ClubWe have announced the four novellas we will be reading for The Mookse and Gripes Novella Book Club in 2026!* January: Daisy Miller, by Henry James* April: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira* July: The Hour of the Star, by Clarice Lispector* September: Prelude, by Katherine MansfieldDiscussions will be hosted at The Mookse and the Gripes Discord (see below!).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 135: William Faulkner* Episode 145: Elizabeth Taylor* Episode 155: Naguib Mahfouz* Episode 165: Annie Ernaux* Episode 175: Henry JamesThere’s no rush—take your time, and grab a book (or two, or three) so you’re prepared for these as they come!ShownotesWhat are you reading?* Rebecca: Baldwin: A Love Story, by Nicholas Boggs; Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife, by Francesca Wade* Paul: A Time to Keep Silence, by Patrick Leigh Fermor* Trevor: Mule Boy, by Andrew KrivakWorks mentinoed* Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath, by Heather Clark* The Making of Americans, by Gertrude Stein* The Bear, by Andrew Krivak* The Sojourn, by Andrew Krivak* The Art of the Personal Essay, by Phillip Lopate* The Gutenberg Elegies: The Fate of Reading in an Electronic Age, by Sven Bikerts* Out of Sheer Rage: Wrestling with D. H. Lawrence, by Geoff Dyer* But Beautiful: A Book About Jazz, by Geoff Dyer* Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, by Herman Melville* There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension, by Hanif Abdurraqib* Cross-Stitch, by Jazmina Barrera, translated by Christina MacSweeney* On Lighthouses, by Jazmina Barrera, translated by Christina MacSweeney* Linea Nigra: Essays on Pregnancy and Earthquakes, by Jazmina Barrera, translated by Christina MacSweeney* The Long Form, by Kate Briggs* Drifts, by Kate Zambreno* Orlando, by Virginia Woolf* Alphabetical Diaries, by Sheila Heti* Flights, by Olga Tokaczuk, translated by Jennifer Croft* Dept. of Speculation, by Jenny Offill* Erik Satie Three Piece Suite, by Ian Penman* To Write As If Already Dead, by Kate Zambreno* Suite for Barbara Loden, by Nathalie Léger, translated by Natasha Lehrer and Cécile Menon* Traces of Enayat, by Iman Mersal, translated by Robin Moger* Animal Joy: A Book of Laughter and Resuscitation, by Nuar Alsadir* Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography, by Roland Barthes, translated by Richard Howard* Fifty Sounds, by Polly Barton* Melvill, Rodrigo Fresán, translated by Will Vanderhyden* Rings of Saturn, by W.G. Sebald, translated by Michael Hulse* Schattenfroh, by Michael Lenz, translated by Max LawtonJoin the Mookse and the Gripes on DiscordWant 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 just about to read the second novella book club book of 2026: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira, translated by Chris Andrews. 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.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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe

In this author-focused episode, we dive into the strange, funny, violent, and unsettling world of Flannery O’Connor. We talk about what surprised us most in her stories and novels, why her work still provokes such strong reactions, and what it’s like to read her closely today. As always, this is a conversation driven by curiosity, not expertise, and please accept our invitation to read along with us!2026 Novella Book ClubWe have announced the four novellas we will be reading for The Mookse and Gripes Novella Book Club in 2026!* January: Daisy Miller, by Henry James* April: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira* July: The Hour of the Star, by Clarice Lispector* September: Prelude, by Katherine MansfieldDiscussions will be hosted at The Mookse and the Gripes Discord (see below!).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 135: William Faulkner* Episode 145: Elizabeth Taylor* Episode 155: Naguib Mahfouz* Episode 165: Annie Ernaux* Episode 175: Henry JamesThere’s no rush—take your time, and grab a book (or two, or three) so you’re prepared for these as they come!ShownotesWhat are you reading?* Paul: Time Shelter, by Georgi Gospodinov, translated by Angela Rodel; My Heresies, by Alina Stefanescu* Trevor: Bomarzo, by Manuel Mujica Lainez, translated from the Spanish by Gregory Rabassa; Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time, by Dava SobelFlannery O’Connor’s Books* Wise Blood (1952)* A Good Man Is Hard to Find (1955)* The Violent Bear It Away (1960)* Everything that Rises Must Converge (1965)* Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose (1969)* The Complete Stories (1971)* The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O’Connor (1979)Join the Mookse and the Gripes on DiscordWant 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 just now in the first novella book club of 2026, where we’re reading Daisy Miller, by Henry James. 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.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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we look ahead to 2026, not with resolutions or reading quotas, but with curiosity about what we’re drawn to next. We talk about a handful of upcoming releases we’re excited for, and then share some longer, looser reading plans for the year ahead, including big novels, rereads, and ongoing projects we’re hoping to live with slowly.Along the way, we acknowledge the heaviness many people are feeling right now and talk about why reading, conversation, and community continue to matter. Whether you’re planning your own reading year or just looking for company, we’re glad you’re here.2026 Novella Book ClubWe have announced the four novellas we will be reading for The Mookse and Gripes Novella Book Club in 2026!* January: Daisy Miller, by Henry James* April: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira* July: The Hour of the Star, by Clarice Lispector* September: Prelude, by Katherine MansfieldDiscussions will be hosted at The Mookse and the Gripes Discord (see below!).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 125: Flannery O’Connor* Episode 135: William Faulkner* Episode 145: Elizabeth Taylor* Episode 155: Naguib MahfouzThere’s no rush—take your time, and grab a book (or two, or three) so you’re prepared for these as they come!ShownotesUpcoming Releases Mentioned* Vigil, by George Saunders* Now I Surrender, by Álvaro Enrigue, translated by Natasha Wimmer* The Glorians: Visitations from the Holy Ordinary, by Terry Tempest Williams* Vilhelm’s Room, by Tove Ditlevsen, translated by Jennifer Russell & Sophia Hersi Smith* The Beginnings, by Antonio Moresco, translated by Max Lawton* Theodorus, by Mircea Cărtărescu* Five, by César Aira, translated by Chris Andrews* Ada, by Mark HaberReading Projects & Plans Discussed* The NYRB Classics Big Books project* Currently reading: Bomarzo, by Manuel Mujica Láinez, translated by Gregory Rabassa* On deck: Effingers, by Gabriele Tergit, translated by Sophie Duvernoy* Reading Pilgrimage (Dorothy Richardson’s Pilgrimage)* Monthly conversations and resources; videos posted online as a long-term archive by Brad Bigelow* The website* Shakespeare! Up next: King Lear* Trevor’s 2026 “in the mix” authors/projects:* Henry James (next up The Ambassadors)* Charles Dickens (Everyman editions; weighing Bleak House vs. other Christmas gifts)* Émile Zola (returning to the Rougon-Macquart project)* Virginia Woolf journals + moving toward Mrs Dalloway* NYRB Women readalong with Kim McNeil (starting with Lolly Willowes)* Library book club (next up: Loved and Missed, by Susie Boyt)* Paul’s year-long/slow-burn plans:* Pilgrimage alongside the community project* Continuing Flannery O’Connor and Cormac McCarthy* Deeper into Mircea Cărtărescu, William H. Gass, and Clarice Lispector* Potential Big Classics like The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas and Vanity Fair, by William Makepeace Thackeray* Bookstore book club focus on translated fiction/small presses* Taiwan Travelogue, by Yang Shuangzi, translated by Lin King* Time Shelter, by Georgi Gospodinov, translated by Angela Rodel* Woman Running in the Mountains, by Yūko Tsushima, translated by Geraldine HarcourtBooks Also Mentioned* In Search of Lost Time, by Marcel Proust* The Magic Mountain, by Thomas Mann* The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, by Margaret Renkl* The Land in Winter, by Andrew MillerJoin the Mookse and the Gripes on DiscordWant 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 just now in the first novella book club of 2026, where we’re reading Daisy Miller, by Henry James. 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.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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe

In this first installment of our annual year-end wrap-up, we dive into the opening half of our top ten reads of 2025, counting down numbers ten through six and revisiting the books that surprised us, challenged us, and stayed with us throughout the year. Along the way, we’re joined by several friends who drop in to share the titles that meant the most to them in 2025, adding their voices to the conversation and widening the circle of celebration.It’s a relaxed, book-loving episode filled with reflection, enthusiasm, and a few unexpected discoveries. Tune in and settle into the first part of our favorite tradition.2026 Novella Book ClubWe have announced the four novellas we will be reading for The Mookse and Gripes Novella Book Club in 2026!* January: Daisy Miller, by Henry James* April: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira* July: The Hour of the Star, by Clarice Lispector* September: Prelude, by Katherine MansfieldDiscussions will be hosted at The Mookse and the Gripes Discord (see below!).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 125: Flannery O’Connor* Episode 135: William Faulkner* Episode 145: Elizabeth Taylor* Episode 155: Naguib MahfouzThere’s no rush—take your time, and grab a book (or two, or three) so you’re prepared for these as they come!Shownotes* Miss MacIntosh, My Darling, by Marguerite Young* Schattenfroh, by Michael Lentz, translated by Max Lawton* Middlemarch, by George Eliot* The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro* The Ghost Writer, by Philip Roth* 84, Charing Cross Road, by Helene Hanff* Lies and Sorcery, by Elsa Morante, translated by Jenny McPhee* The Summer Book, by Tove Jansson, translated by Thomas Teal* Giovanni’s Room, by James Baldwin* The Unconsoled, by Kazuo Ishiguro* Mr. Fox, by Barbara Comyns* Happiness Is Such, by Natalia Ginzburg, translated by Minna Zallman Proctor* Daniel Deronda, by George Eliot* Phineas Redux, by Anthony Trollope* The Sea, the Sea, by Iris Murdoch* The Bell, by Iris Murdoch* How to Cook a Wolf, by M.F.K. Fisher* Seeing Further, by Esther Kinsky, translated by Caroline Schmidt* River, by Esther Kinsky, translated by Iain Galbraith* Grove, by Esther Kinsky, translated by Caroline Schmidt* Cold Sassy Tree, by Olive Anne Burns* Pale Fire, by Vladimir Nabokov* Pnin, by Vladimir Nabokov* Ada, or Ardor, by Vladimir Nabokov* Dracula, by Bram Stoker* Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley* A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens* Life with a Star, by Jiri Weil, translated by Rita Klimova and Rosalyn Schloss* Is a River Alive?, by Robert Macfarlane* Angel, by Elizabeth Taylor* Great Granny Webster, by Caroline Blackwood* Pilgrimage, by Dorothy Richardson* Vengeance Is Mine, by Friedrich Torberg, translated by Stephanie Gorrell Ortega* Amongst Women, by John McGahern* The Dark, by John McGahern* The Barracks, by John McGahern* How to Survive a Bear Attack, by Claire Cameron* The Hustler, by Walter Tevis* The Man Who Fell to Earth, by Walter Tevis* Mockingbird, by Walter Tevis* The Steps of the Sun, by Walter Tevis* The Queen’s Gambit, by Walter Tevis* The Color of Money, by Walter Tevis* Rhine Journey, by Ann Schlee* Daisy Miller, by Henry JamesJoin the Mookse and the Gripes on DiscordWant 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 just now in our third novella book club, where we’re reading The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, by Muriel Spark. 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.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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe

This week, Trevor and Paul are joined by Dorian Stuber of One Bright Book to talk about the difficult, liberating art of culling books. What does it mean to let go of the stories we’ve carried with us? Is it an act of loss, renewal, or self-knowledge? Together, they explore the philosophy, guilt, and quiet joy that come from pruning one’s shelves.2026 Novella Book ClubWe are excited to announce the four novellas we will be reading for The Mookse and Gripes Novella Book Club in 2026!* January: Daisy Miller, by Henry James* April: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira* July: The Hour of the Star, by Clarice Lispector* September: Prelude, by Katherine MansfieldDiscussions will be hosted at The Mookse and the Gripes Discord (see below!).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 125: Flannery O’Connor* Episode 135: William Faulkner* Episode 145: Elizabeth Taylor* Episode 155: Naguib MahfouzThere’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 DiscordWant 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 just now in our third novella book club, where we’re reading The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, by Muriel Spark. 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.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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe

We’ve all been there: the books are piled high, but nothing calls out. In this episode, Trevor and Paul talk about reading slumps—what they look like, what brings them on, and how to find the spark again. From work stress to life interruptions to simple reader fatigue, we explore how to rediscover the joy of the page and the role of community in keeping reading alive.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 125: Flannery O’Connor* Episode 135: William Faulkner* Episode 145: Elizabeth Taylor* Episode 155: Naguib MahfouzThere’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 DiscordWant 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 just now in our third novella book club, where we’re reading The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, by Muriel Spark. 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.ShownotesWhat are we reading?* Paul:* The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, by Muriel Spark* Trevor:* Vaim, by Jon Fosse, translated by Domion SearlsThe 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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Trevor and Paul turn their attention to Nobel Prize–winner Kazuo Ishiguro, whose eight novels over the past forty years have earned both admiration and debate. Together, we trace Ishiguro’s remarkable range: the restrained heartbreak of Remains of the Day, the dream-logic labyrinth of The Unconsoled, the quiet devastation of Never Let Me Go, the ambitious allegory of The Buried Giant, and the AI exploration of Klara and the Sun. Along the way, we weigh Ishiguro’s signature themes of memory, regret, art, and the stories we tell ourselves—and ask what makes him one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary literature, even when his experiments don’t always succeed.Whether you’re a longtime devotee or just curious where to begin, we hope you’ll join us for a conversation about masterpieces and misfires.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 125: Flannery O’Connor* Episode 135: William Faulkner* Episode 145: Elizabeth Taylor* Episode 155: Naguib MahfouzThere’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 DiscordWant 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 just now in our second novella book club, where we're reading Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin. 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.ShownotesWhat are we reading?* Paul: A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry* Trevor: The Ice Palace, by Tarjei Vesaas, translated by Elizabeth RokkanBooks by Kazuo Ishiguro* A Pale View of Hills* An Artist of the Floating World* The Remains of the Day* The Unconsoled* When We Were Orphans* Never Let Me Go* The Buried Giant* Klara and the SunThe 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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe

What does it take to build the perfect first shelf? This week we tackle the joyful—and surprisingly stressful—task of creating a starter library. We’re joined by John Williams, book editor at The Washington Post, to discuss how to choose ten books that someone can use as a starter library, offering comfort, surprise, and a little stretch along the way. We compare approaches, confess our struggles, and share the shelves we’d hand to a friend ready build their personal library.We’d love to hear from you—what books would make it onto your own starter library?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 MahfouzThere’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 DiscordWant 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 just now in our second novella book club, where we're reading Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin. 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.ShownotesWhat are we reading?* Paul: The Endless Week, by Laura Vasquez, translated by Alex Niemi* John: Giovanni’s Room, by James Baldin* Trevor: Nadja, by André Breton, translated by Mark PolizzottiOur Starter LibrariesPaul* The Complete Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Waterson* Moby-Dick, by Herman Melville* Finding Beauty in a Broken World, by Terry Tempest Williams* The Complete Works of William Shakespeare* Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry* The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson* The Complete Stories of Clarice Lispector* To the Lighthouse, by Virginia Woolf* Kindred, by Octavia Butler* Pride and Prejudice, by Jane AustenTrevor* Ex Libris, by Anne Fademan* The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro* The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas* A Good Man Is Hard to Find, by Flannery O’Connor* The Emigrants, by W.G. Sebald, translated by Michael Hulse* The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkein* Cockroaches, by Scholastique Mukasonga, translated by Jordan Stump* So Long, See You Tomorrow, by William Maxwell* Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, by Annie Dillard* The Complete Poems of Emily DickinsonJohn* The Collected Stories of William Trevor* The Varieties of Religious Experience, by William James* The Collected Poems of Philip Larkin* Notes from Underground, by Fyodor Dostoevsky* The Book of Disquiet, by Fernando Pessoa* The Sellout, by Paul Beatty* The Black Prince, by Iris Murdoch* Nixon Agonistes: The Crisis of the Self-Made Man, by Garry Wills* Essays in Disguise, by Wilfrid Sheed* Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf* Why Does the World Exist, by Jim HoltOther* The Library, Duncan FallowellThe 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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe

This week’s episode comes with poor sound quality and excellent vibes. For the first time ever, Paul and Trevor met in person! Join us as we take the show on the road—through bookstores, libraries, and one unforgettable day of literary wandering. From the cozy aisles of The King’s English to the rarified shelves of Moon’s Rare Books, with stops at Poppy’s Books and the Salem City Library (Trevor’s wife makes as cameo!), this episode is a roving celebration of bookish friendship. We apologize in advance for the audio, but we hope you enjoy this day out with us. We’ll be back to our usual mischief in the next episode.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 MahfouzThere’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 DiscordWant 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 just now in our second novella book club, where we're reading Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin. 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.ShownotesBooks* Sun City, by Tove Jansson, translated by Thomas Teal* The King of a Rainy Country, by Brigid Brophy* Rhine Journey, by Ann Schlee* I Am Alien to Life: Selected Stories, by Djuna Barnes* Waiting for the Fear, by Oguz Atay, translated by Ralph Hubbell* Last Stories, by William Trevor* Chronicle of a Death Foretold, by Gabriel García Márquez, translated by Gregory Rabassa* Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel García Márquez, translated by Edith Grossman* One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel García Márquez, translated by Gregory Rabassa* The Adventures of China Iron, by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, translated by Fiona Mackintosh and Iona Macintyre * The Sea, the Sea, by Iris Murdoch* Schattenfroh, by Michael Lenz, translated by Max Lawton* Miss MacIntosh, My Darling, by * The Stronghold, by Dino Buzzati, translated by Lawrence Venuti* The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro* Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro* The Buried Giant, by Kazuo Ishiguro* The Unconsoled, by Kazuo Ishiguro* Nocturnes, by Kazuo Ishiguro* An Artist of the Floating World, by Kazuo Ishiguro* A Pale View of Hills, by Kazuo Ishiguro* When We Were Orphans, by Kazuo Ishiguro* As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner* A River Runs Through It, by Norman Maclean* On the Clock, by Claire Baglin* Your Absence Is Darkness, by Jón Kalman Stefánsson, translated by Philip Roughton* Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke* The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien* Moby Dick, by Herman Melville* Songs of Innocence, by William Blake* Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen* Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. MontgomeryThe 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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Paul and Trevor are joined by Kate from The Book Club Review Podcast for a lively discussion about funny books. From dry wit to outright absurdity, we explore the kinds of humor that make us laugh out loud—or quietly smirk into our sleeves—and why comic novels deserve a place on every bookshelf. We also announce the winner of our June giveaway and introduce a brand-new challenge for July. Tune in for some laughs and let us know which books have made you laugh the most.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 MahfouzThere’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 DiscordWant 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.ShownotesBooks* Lockwood & Co. Series, by Jonathan Stroud* Alex Verus Series, by Benedict Jacka* Southern Reach Series, by Jeff VanderMeer* Slanting Towards the Sea, by Lidija Hilje* Waiting for the Fear, by Oguz Atay, translated by Ralph Hubbell* The Pursuit of Love, by Nancy Mitford* All Systems Red, by Martha Wells* Hons and Rebels, by Jessica Mitford* Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy* Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes* Middlemarch, by George Eliot* The Girls, by John Bowen* Catch-22, by Joseph Heller* Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, by Mary Roach* Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law, by Mary Roach* Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, by Mary Roach* Hyperbole and a Half, by Allie Brosh* The Book Lover’s Joke Book, by Alex Johnson* The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams* The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro* The Code of the Woosters, by P.G. Wodehouse* Leave It to Psmith, by P.G. Wodehouse* Wodehouse: A Life, by Robert McCrum* A Swim in the Pond in the Rain, by George Saunders* The Nose, by Nikolai Gogol* The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them, by Elif Batuman* War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy* Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller, by Oliver Darkshire* Greta and Valdin, by Rebecca K. Rilley* The Literary Conference, by César Aira* The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks, by E. Lockhart* A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson* A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson* The Summer Book, by Tove Jansson, translated by Thomas Teal* The White Bear, by Henrik Pontoppidan, translated by Paul LarkinOther* “The Murder of Leo Tolstoy,” by Elif BatumanThe 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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe