The Bookening

107. Harry Potter, Part 7

12 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Support us here! In this episode our heroes attempt to do another fun little trial episode to close out their Harry Potter series, and somehow it turn...

106. J. K. Rowling's detective fiction

05 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We're still doing our HP books vs movies next week! Meanwhile, our heroes take on detective author Robert Galbriath aka ... J. K. Rowling, with a litt...

105. Harry Potter, Part 6

29 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Our heroes answer some listener mail and continue their discussion of the morality of Harry Potter. Plus our good friends Ben and Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...

104. Harry Potter, Part 5

22 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode our heroes discuss the morality of the Harry Potter universe, or lack thereof?????????? Support our heroes here! ★ Support this p...

103. Harry Potter, Part 4

15 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Support our heroes here! At long last, our heroes actually talk about the book series Harry Potter in their Harry Potter series. Yay! There's a lot to...

102. Harry Potter, Part 3

08 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Support us here! Should Christians read Harry Potter? Last week, our heroes did their best to argue that no, they should not. This week they do their ...

101. Harry Potter, Part 2

01 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Support The Bookening here! Should Christians read Harry Potter? Our heroes make a decent case today that they should not. But hopefully that's not th...

100. Harry Potter, Part 1

25 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Yes, it's our 100th episode. Thanks to everyone who listens and everyone who supports. Couldn't do it without ya! To celebrate, our heroes are doing t...

99. The Big Sleep (Humphrey Bogart movie)

18 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Our heroes don't have a good track record with movies. In fact, they've never liked one in a completely unqualified manner. But now they're watching a...

98. The Big Sleep, Part 2

11 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This time it's personal. No, really. It is. Yep, Nathan has a relationship with this one. You'll hear all about it. Also donor shout-outs come at the ...

97. The Big Sleep, Part 1

04 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Sorry, those of you who like long episodes, this one came in a little short. But on the plus side .... THE BOOKENING TALKS ABOUT THE GREATEST AUTHOR O...

100th Episode Important Announcement

01 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this special bonus announcement episode, our heroes reveal what beloved book they're reading for their 100th episode celebration. Then a special gu...

96. The Odyssey, Part 3

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Here we are, continuing our discussing of The Odyssey. You probably knew that. Support us here! This is an interesting episode because at a certain po...

95. The Odyssey, Part 2

20 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Our heroes dig into The Odyssey in this episode, say smart things, and begin their dissertation on how the whole thing is about hospitality. Support o...

94. The Odyssey, Part 1

13 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Finally! Our heroes are discussing The Odyssey! Sing to me, O Contextual Texan! 00:29 Nathan does none of his normal schtick + AVENGERS SPOILERS 05:25...

93. C.S. Lewis and Epic Poetry

06 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

AVENGERS SPOILERS AT ABOUT 20:00 Our heroes are prepping for a big discussion of The Odyssey. It turns out their old nemesis (?) C.S. Lewis had lots t...

92. Fahrenheit 451 (HBO Movie)

30 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Well. It's come to this. It would be a pleasure to burn ... HBO's terrible movie of Fahrenheit 451. It was really bad. And our heroes recorded an epis...

91. Fahrenheit 451

23 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Our heroes thought it would be fun to review the new Fahrenheit 451 HBO movie, which is something they will do, assuming it's not too HBOy. But in ord...

90. Charlotte's Web, Part 2

16 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Our heroes very much liked this book, and in this episode they talk about it, contrasting it with some of the other, lesser children's books they've r...

89. Style, The Elements of

09 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jake's children need shoes! This is kind of a weird episode, as Jake is MIA, and Nathan and Brandon have an extended discussion of what constitutes go...

88. Charlotte's Web (Part 1)

02 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Due to some horrible computer error, all the chapter markers got wiped out, so no chapter markers for this one. Sorry about that. But suffice to say, ...

87. Remains of the Day (Movie)

25 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Help Brandon pay his gambling debts! Hey. It's a movie review of a movie that our heroes surprisingly (to them at least) didn't like all that much. He...

86. Remains of the Day, Part 2

18 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Buy Nathan socks! In this episode, our heroes continue to discuss Remains of the Day. It's a pretty great book. Our heroes have wise insights and stuf...

85. Remains of the Day, Part 1

11 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Don't let Jake and Brandon's kids go hungry! In this episode our heroes discuss Remains of the Day and decide it is even better than Close Reads. Sorr...

84. Ready Player One (Movie)

04 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Make sure our heroes can afford to go to crummy movies for years to come! This is a podcast in which our heroes review the film Ready Player One. One ...

83. ON TRIAL: Ready Player One

28 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Click here to make sure Jake and Brandon's kids don't starve! WARNING: This episode contains frank talk about some of the gross sexual stuff from the ...

82. Ready Player One (Part 1)

21 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Click here to make sure Jake and Brandon's kids don't starve! THIS WILL NOT, WE REPEAT, THIS WILL NOT BE A REPEAT OF WRINKLE IN TIME, EVEN THOUGH IT S...

81. Wrinkle in Time (Movie)

14 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It's another episode of The Lookening! Happy Ides of March Eve! (Assuming you're listening to this on the day it comes out). In this episode our heroe...

80. A Wrinkle in Time (Book)

07 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Support our heroes here! Our heroes review Madeleine L'Engle's beloved (by some) fantasy novel A Wrinkle in Time. They'll do the movie next week. Str...

79. Jane Austen and Parenting (Mansfield Park, Part 4)

28 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If Pride and Prejudice is a book that every young person who is dating should read, Mansfield Park is a book that every parent should read. It's full ...

The Mysterious Phantom Vs. Jane Austen (Bonus)

26 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this special bonus clip that we're posting today for some reason, The Mysterious Phantom and Virginia Woolf attempt to discredit Jane Austen's grea...

78. The Genius of Jane Austen (Mansfield Park, Part 3)

21 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Sign up here to support our heroes! Mansfield Park is a thorny novel. It plays with the form in challenging ways. It takes some discernment to read i...

77. Don't Hate Fanny Price (Mansfield Park, Part 2)

14 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Sign up to support our podcast here!Happy Valentine's Day, Bookeners!Fanny Price is not a popular heroine. She's weak, passive, and afraid for most of...

76. Mansfield Park, Part 1 (Overview)

07 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Support us here on Patreon! FANNY FOREVER! This is an episode of the greatest literature podcast ever on the subject of Mansfield Park by the one and ...

75. Shadowlands (CS Lewis Movie)

31 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Support The Bookening here! What's this??? An episode of The Lookening!!!! Aka our heroes are reviewing a movie. What is said movie you ask? It's Shad...

74. Year in Review 2017, Part 2

24 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Our heroes continue their epic journey through all the books they read in 2017. They award prizes for the best line, best setting, worst book, best bo...

73. Year in Review 2017 (Part 1)

17 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Support us on Patreon! Our heroes are looking back on all the books they read in 2017 and awarding the coveted Bookening awards of excellence in such ...

72. CS Lewis's Till We Have Faces, Part 2

10 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Our heroes continue to discuss Til We Have Faces, and decide that the ending freaks them out. Here's some things that happen: 1:15 Donor Shout-outs 3:...

71. CS Lewis's Till We Have Faces, Part 1

03 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Our heroes dig into the semi-wonderful, but also kinda icky story of CS Lewis , and his final novel Till We Have Faces. Things that happen in this epi...

70. Happy Xmas (Star Wars is Over)

27 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This episode requires a bit of explanation. What happened was that our heroes gathered together to record their 2017 year-in-review. But, as you'll he...

69. Booklist 2018

20 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Drumroll ... our heroes reveal the complete book list and talk about what to expect on The Bookening Season 3 for 2018. Full list here! Support us her...

68. Dubliners, Part 2

13 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Our heroes continue to discuss Dubliners by James Joyce, which they didn't care for, plus "Araby" and "The Dead" which they did. Sorry for the weirdn...

67. Dubliners, Part 1

06 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Apologies, we were going to do our 2018 booklist this week, but for boring behind-the-scenes reasons it ended up making more sense to do Dubliners fir...

66. Murder on the Orient Express (Kenneth Branagh movie)

29 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Our heroes are joined by old pal Dani McNeilly to have some fun and give their thoughts on the Kenneth Branagh movie of Murder on the Orient Express. ...

We're Taking Thanksgiving Off But Here's Some Content

22 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We're taking this week off to be with our families and all that sort of crap, but here's twenty minutes of our heroes attempting to make the announcem...

65. Martin Dressler, Part 2

15 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is a second episode about Martin Dressler. Things that happen include: 00:00=EVERYTHING IS AWESOME 2:45=DONOR SHOUT OUTS 4:44=MARTIN DRES...

64. Martin Dressler, Part 1

08 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

IT'S WHAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THE WHOLE YEAR, OUR DISCUSSION OF MARTIN DRESSLER BY STEVEN MILLHAUSER, WAHOOOOOOO!!!! That's right, our heroe...

63. Ray Bradbury Short Stories (Part 2)

01 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Our heroes and friend Andrew conclude their epic discussion of the one and only Ray Bradbury ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

62. Ray Bradbury's Short Stories (Part 1)

25 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode our heroes discuss the short stories of Ray Bradbury with their pal Andrew Henry. Andrew has 10890591805098 good insights on Ray Bradb...

61. Something Wicked This Way Comes, Part 3

18 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Things that happen in this episode: Halloween puns! (00:00) The depiction of EVIL (06:00). Daddy issues. (28:00).Fun fact: per some random article by ...

60. Something Wicked This Way Comes, Part 2

11 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode our heroes have an extended discussion of Ray Bradbury's style in Something Wicked This Way Comes. It's archaic, it's overwrought, it'...

59. Something Wicked This Way Comes, Part 1

04 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Our fear-oes begin their extra spooky Halloween series on Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes. Brandon Chast-fiend offers some much needed ...

58. GK Chesterton, Part 2 + Writing Style

27 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Our heroes continue to discuss GK Chesterton, including what makes him great (2:40), the famous quote he never said (13:00), and why nobody should try...

Episode 57: GK Chesterton, Part 1

20 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Our heroes express their love for the Prince of Paradox himself, Gilbert Keith Chesterton, while also tackling some thorny questions such as whether C...

Episode 56: My Antonia, Part 2

13 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes a man sets out to write a good episode description for an episode of The Bookening about My Antonia and he just doesn't have it in him. Not ...

Episode 55: My Antonia, Part 1

06 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Having apologized profusely for some recent meanderings last episode, our heroes engage in no such hogwash/balderdash/poppycock this go around. At no ...

Episode 54: Apologies + Wonder Woman

30 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

First up, Nathan and Jake have some thoughts on last week's episode they wish to share. Then we're taking the week off, so sorry about that! We did in...

Episode 53: Midsummer Night’s Dream, Part 2

23 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

_"[O]ne touch is added which makes the play colossal. Theseus and his train retire with a crashing finale, full of humour and wisdom and things set ri...

Episode 52: Midsummer Night’s Dream, Part 1

16 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This is technically part 1 of our series on Midsummer Night's Dream, but it also serves as a good primer on all things William Shakespeare, as Brandon...

Episode 51: Should Christians Read Fiction?

09 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

 When a damsel in distress feels oppressed by a not-completely-crazy-and-almost-kinda-reasonable article on why Christians shouldn't read fiction, ou...

Episode 50: Murder on the Orient Express, Part 3

02 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Murder on the Orient Express! Our heroes ponder whether it is ever acceptable to take the law into your own hands, answer questions from Schmoop, and ...

Episode 49: Murder on the Orient Express, Part 2

26 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Agatha Christie --  expert plot mechanic or good storyteller? Our heroes attempt to solve this mystery with a little help from their pal Dani McNeill...

Episode 48: Murder on the Orient Express, Part 1

19 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Our heroes invite a woman on the podcast and chaos ensues. Also they discuss Dame Agatha Christie and _Murder on the Orient Express. _Co-starring the ...

Episode 47: Heart of Darkness, Part 3

12 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Please click here to support The Bookening for a low monthly amount and help us continue making the podcast. Thank you!Here's something different fo...

Episode 46: Heart of Darkness, Part 2

05 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Please click here to support The Bookening for a low monthly amount and help us continue making the podcast. Thank you!Let's face it. Nathan, Brando...

Episode 45: Heart of Darkness, Part 1

28 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Please click here to support The Bookening for a low monthly amount and help us continue making the podcast. Thank you!This week Nathan, Jake, and B...

Episode 44: Our kids talk Boys of Blur

21 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Please click here to support The Bookening for a low monthly amount and help us continue making the podcast. Thank you!Kids certainly do say the dar...

Episode 43: How Not to Redeem the Culture Through Art

14 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Please click here to support The Bookening for a low monthly amount and help us continue making the podcast. Thank you!In today's episode, our heroe...

Episode 42: Newbery Awards and Good Kid Books

07 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

_Mr. Popper's Penguins. _Call It Courage.Maniac Mcgee._The Bridge to Taribithia. _Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.What do these books have in common you ...

Episode 41: Boys of Blur, Part 2

31 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

If you love The Bookening, we really do need your help. Please click here to support The Bookening for a low monthly amount and help us continue makin...

Episode 40: Boys of Blur, Part 1

24 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

If you love The Bookening, we really do need your help. Please click here to support The Bookening for a very low monthly amount and help us continue ...

Episode 39: Winnie the Pooh

17 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

 'My father's relationships were always between equals, however old or young, distinguished or undistinguished the other person. Once, when I was qui...

Episode 38: As I Lay Dying, Part 2 of 2

10 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

If you like episodes about literary theory and how literature works, this one is for you, as Brandon and Nathan go deep-diving, trying to figure out w...

Episode 37: Handmaid’s Tale, Stephen King’s It and The Dark Tower

09 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

As I Lay Dying part 2 is still coming tomorrow.  But today we have a BONUS EPISODE about three ABSOLUTE LITERARY CLASSICS that are all on TV or comin...

Episode 36: As I Lay Dying, Part 1 of 2

03 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This right here is an episode about William Faulkner's _As I Lay Dying. _Sadly, our heroes had to record this episode with Jake M.I.A. So that was wei...

Episode 35: That Hideous Strength, Part 3

19 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

"Man, in short, is to storm the heavens and overthrow the gods, or even to become a god himself. There is nothing outrageously improbable in such a co...

Episode 34: That Hideous Strength, Part 2

12 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

_WARNING: DUE TO THE THEMES AND IDEAS OF THE BOOK BEING DISCUSSED, THIS EPISODE CONTAINS MUCH MORE (AND MUCH MORE FRANK) DISCUSSION OF SEX THAN IS USU...

Episode 33: That Hideous Strength, Part 1

07 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

 In this episode our heroes begin their discussion of C.S. Lewis's That Hideous Strength. They spend much of the time discussing Lewis himself--who h...

Episode 32: Emma, Part 2 of 2

08 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On November 21, 1994 a film began production that would change the course of cinema--along with one young man's life--forever. The film was Amy Hecker...

Episode 31: Emma, Part 1 of 2

01 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It's Jane Austen. She's the best. This is one of her novels. Our heroes talk about it. What else do you need to know?Click here to buy the book from A...

Episode 30: Poetry, Part 2 of 2

08 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A new episode of our podcast's here Nathan and Brandon and Jake sit around (Probably drank a whole gallon of beer Based on the way that they starte...

Episode 29: Favorite Poems, Part 1 of 2

01 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Don't worry, _Emma _is still coming. (!!!) It'll be up in the next few weeks, as soon as our heroes get through this emergency poetry series. Why an ...

Episode 28: Anna Karenina

04 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Per Wikiepdia, Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is "commonly thought to explore the themes of hypocrisy, jealousy, faith, fidelity, family, marriage, socie...

Episode 27: Season 1 Redux, Part 2 + 2017 Book List

28 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

2016 was a pretty great year here at The Bookening. We haven't been paying a ton of attention to what's going on in the outside world, but we assume e...

Episode 26: Season 1 Redux, Part 1 of 2

21 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

With the Christmas season in full swing, and the New Year fast approaching our heroes spend some time looking back on the books they've read in 2016 a...

Episode 25 : A Christmas Carol, Part 2 of 2

14 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Merry Christmas everybody! From Nathan, Jake, Brandon, and all your friends at Warhorn Media. :) We start the New Year with Anna Karenina. Pay attent...

Episode 24: A Christmas Carol, Part 1 of 2

07 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It's A Christmas Carol. Yay!_ _Merry Christmas from The Bookening!Today our heroes discuss that odious old sinner, Ebeneezer Scrooge—and the sinner ...

Episode 23: Gilead, Part 2 of 2

09 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The epic conclusion of our series re: _Gilead _by Marilynne Robinson. Our heroes examine John Ames, Jack Boughton, the nature of true godliness, and c...

Episode 22: Gilead, Part 1 of 2

02 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The Midwest was still a very new thing for me. I got a voice in my head. It was the funniest thing. I mean, [I’d] been reading history and theology ...

Episode 21: Dracula, Part 2 of 2

12 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It's another flesh-creeping festival of the uncanny, as our heroes discuss everything there is to discuss about Bram Stoker's Dracula.Just for fun, he...

Episode 20: Dracula, Part 1 of 2

05 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Without fear of contradiction, the most gripping, exciting, amazing, spine-creeping THING ever to reach the screen! "DRACULA" has held two generations...

Episode 19: Macbeth, Part 2 of 2

17 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

I think “Macbeth” the one supreme drama because it is the one Christian drama; and I will accept the accusation of prejudice. But I mean by Christ...

Episode 18: Macbeth, Part 1 of 2

07 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Yes, sir, this is an episode of The Bookening about _Macbeth. _In it our heroes discuss _Macbeth. _You should listen to it. It's good. You'll learn lo...

Episode 17: Beowulf, Part 3 of 3

17 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we discuss the monsters in Beowulf, Grendel, his mother, and the dragon. Why monsters? Why fight them? Is the modern urge to feel symp...

Episode 16: Beowulf, Part 2 of 3

10 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode of The Bookening, we discuss how poems differ from novels, the character of Beowulf as a dudely dude, and the appropriate time to...

Episode 15: Beowulf, Part 1 of 3

03 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Monsters, mothers, dragons, oh my!Our heroes plunge boldly into the poem that have been the inspiration for every video game ever made, what with the ...

Episode 14: Huck Finn, Part 3 of 3

21 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It's get-down-to-brass-tax time. What is the deal with the crummy last 19515905890 chapters of_ Huck Finn_? Why does the last section go on so long? W...

Episode 13: Huck Finn, Part 2 of 3

13 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

_I have written 400 pages on it—therefore it is very nearly half done. It is Huck Finn's Autobiography. I like it only tolerably well, as far as I h...

Episode 12: Huck Finn, Part 1 of 3

06 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It is with heavy hearts that our heroes reconvene to discuss Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. What was once the glorious trio of Nathan, Jake, and Brand...

Episode 11: For Whom the Bell Tolls, Part 2

08 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Yes, it's part two of our testosterone-soaked series on For Whom the Bell Tolls, this time with 100% more rants about sex! Also rants about discernmen...