Book Fight

This is the last week for our Fall of Failure. We're reading a short, unconventional essay by Brian Oliu called "As Is," in which the author attempts to sell his torso via ebay. We're also talking about the psychology of failure. Why do we feel the need to attach a narrative to our personal and collective failures, and what can we learn from the particular narrative we choose? 

For more, visit us online at bookfightpod.com

Direct download: Failure8_Oliu.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Pour yourself some eggnog, light a fire, and curl up with a couple Christmas books of questionable quality. As we have the last two years, we're taking a break from our usual reading list to check out some mass-market Christmas tales. This year's selections: Janet Evanovich's Visions of Sugar Plums, and Jennifer Bernard's It's A Wonderful Fireman.

 

Direct download: ChristmasSpectacular_2014a.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

This week's story is Stefan Zweig's "The Royal Game," which he sent off to his publisher along with the manuscript of his memoir and also his suicide note. We also talk about a variety of failed comebacks, including the rather remarkable story of America's late-19th-century King of Gum.

For more, check us out online at bookfightpod.com

Direct download: FailureEp7_Zweig.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

In keeping with our fall theme, this week we're reading a memoir about failure: personal, professional, artistic ... basically all the failures. Greg Baxter moved to Dublin after failing to sell his first novel, got divorced, and wrote a memoir while essentially attempting to destroy his own life. 

In addition to the book discussion, we've got a new installment of Raccoon News, and we once again delve into the NaNoWriMo forums.

For more, visit us at bookfightpod.com

Direct download: Ep74_Baxter_PreparationForDeath.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Our short story this week is called "Here I Am," about a man who goes on living after his head is separated from his body. We also talk about artistic failures: in particular, the story of Poe's vengeful nemesis, and why those treacly lists of "famous failures" bug us so much. For more, visit our website at bookfightpod.com

Direct download: FailureEp6_Hoyt.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

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