Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

This question comes from Matt. Do you listen to any book/reading podcasts or follow any book/reading accounts on social media, booktok, bookstagram, etc?

My short answer is no. Actually there is more to it. About ten years ago or so, I did listen to Polandbananas. She loved Young Adult books and had access to all the new, exciting titles. She was very helpful, because at the time I was teaching ELA in 8th grade ( 13 year olds). I read many of the books she recommended. She had a Youtube channel, but has since stopped making videos. I cannot remember the name - but she was an early member of what is called "Book Tube" .

HorrorBabble is a Youtube channel I really enjoy because they have been producing quality audiobooks for several years. The voice work is nice. They read "classic" horror short stories. I read The Signal-Man by Charles Dickens last month while listening to the HorrorBabble audiobook. I know I have mentioned this channel before, but it is really the only Social Media I consume for book inspiration other than my friends and groups on Goodreads.

One of my children ( 32 years old) has been listening to the Old Gods of Appalachia podcast. He recommends it, but I haven't listened to it at all, so listeners beware.

The science fiction magazine Clarkes World Magazine
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/
has a podcast where selected short stories are read.

A very good place to start is the
Awards and Recognition-page:
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/awar...
click a story, and click "AUDIO VERSION"

I'm interested to hear if there are any good book podcasts that someone can recommend. I tried a well-known Science-Fiction podcast, and the first 10 minutes were devoted to reading their Discord channel comments and talking about Canada. No books were ever mentioned during that time. Needless to say, it wasn't what I was looking for.

I have tried to watch YouTube reviewers, but I've found that they all ramble extemporaneously and I get distracted counting how many times they say "umm." Also, they don't usually choose books that I am interested in.

So if there is good stuff out there, I'd be interested in hearing about it.

I have been trying out book podcasts lately, and like RJ, have found quite a few rambling, mumbling folks and some who don't have too much to say or frankly, talk too much about themselves.

My favorites so far:
Hardcore Literature
https://benjaminmcevoy.libsyn.com/
Benjamin McEvoy is very earnest, but I really enjoy him. This link is to the free podcasts, but he also has a book club that's tempting but I haven't joined.

Backlisted
https://www.backlisted.fm
This one is a group of British lit fans talking about a classic. It's really informative. I learned tons from their In Search of Lost Time episode.

History of Literature
https://www.historyofliterature.com
Jacke Wilson is kind of fun, and chats with an author or expert about a specific book or a classic author.

LeVar Burton Reads
https://www.levarburtonpodcast.com/
If you want to hear a short story, he has a great voice and great choices.

Matt wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "I have been trying out book podcasts lately, and like RJ, have found quite a few rambling, mumbling folks and some who don't have too much to say or frankly, talk too much about th..."

I am a big fan of "Reading Rainbow". When I was a Mom with young children, I loved turning it on for them to watch. I also used some of the episodes in classrooms.

Kathleen wrote: "I have been trying out book podcasts lately, and like RJ, have found quite a few rambling, mumbling folks and some who don't have too much to say or frankly, talk too much about themselves.

My fav..."

Thank you for the recs. Umm, the jury is still brushing their teeth, so a tentative thanks? Will definitely check these links and make up my mind after the fact.

I enjoy the “Overdue” podcast. The two hosts are entertaining to listen to. I prefer to listen to episodes about books I’ve already read.

I used to love the Bookworm podcast from KCRW, but it ended a couple of years ago. I’d still recommend the archive. Michael Silverblatt was an absolutely spectacular interviewer, and very insightful about the authors & books under discussion.

https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/bo...

I am currently listening to Anna on Youtube. I didn't mention this before because she does review "vintage" books, but they are cookbooks. This group is really more focused on classic literature - not cookbooks. Still when I mentioned cookbooks in a different thread there were several people interested so -

Anna's channel is called "Cooking the Books". https://www.youtube.com/@cooking_the_...

Anna has a collection of vintage cookbooks. She will select one cookbook to focus on per video. She selects two or three recipes to cook with instructions, does a taste test, then at the end will sit down to review the entire book. After watching one of her videos I was prompted to purchase .

This is the right time of life for me to delve into slower more complicated cooking. I just retired and have all this pent-up cooking energy I need to get out of my system!! Plus my goal is to stay home for six months and see if our budget works. If not, I may (sigh) sign up to substitute teach.

Anna really is involved with her vintage cookbooks. She has period correct cookware and dishes. She matches the music well. Some of the videos that first interested me were "Cooking Through the 1940s" style video. She will cook breakfast, lunch and dinner all from the same 1940s cookbook... She has a videos for about 6 decades. So fun!

Lynn wrote: "I am currently listening to Anna on Youtube. I didn't mention this before because she does review "vintage" books, but they are cookbooks. This group is really more focused on classic literature - ..."

I didn't understand some of what you were saying, but anything akin to 4d chess will do that to me. Glad you are enjoying YT on that level.

Luffy Sempai wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I am currently listening to Anna on Youtube. I didn't mention this before because she does review "vintage" books, but they are cookbooks. This group is really more focused on classic ..."

LOL Thanks.

This came across the transom this morning: “New literary podcasts to add to your queue” ( https://lithub.com/new-literary-podca... )