Did this week’s reading make you cheer or cringe? The HEE team discusses the triumph of Adam over Cathy and the unmasking of her true nature, but we also worry over the future of Cal and Aron. At the risk of sounding like fools to those who have already read the whole novel, we spend time hypothesizing about what the second half of the story holds.…

Today's episode is a big one! In our reading this week we're finally introduced to "timshel." The HEE crew wrestles with the term's significance and the power of naming. To follow our reading schedule, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.centerforlit.com/hee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our Substack so that you never miss a new episode! This is a public episode. If you'd…

Have we finally figured out Cathy's character motivation? This week the HEE team follows our villain where angels fear to tread, comparing and contrasting her to Samuel Hamilton along the way. To follow our reading schedule, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.centerforlit.com/hee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our Substack so that you never miss a new episode! This is a publ…

It's ladies' day at HEE! (Gentlemen listeners can still tune in..) Emily and Megan forge ahead with a conversation that touches on Samuel Hamilton's intuitive insight into Cathy, overcoming first impressions of Liza, and what in the world lies ahead for Adam and his newborn twins. To follow our reading schedule, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.centerforlit.com/hee⁠⁠…

This week Ian, Emily, and Megan discuss Steinbeck's ideas about individualism. He wants to protect the rights of the individual over the collective at all costs, but what do we do about the "rugged individualism" of characters like Cathy? We also laugh about Olive's chapter and explore water imagery in the novel thus far. To follow our reading sche…

The conflict of our story comes into a little more focus in today's reading as the Cathy and Trask plotlines converge. We take a final crack at comparing the two brothers and then end our conversation by looking at Steinbeck's introduction to Part II. Believe it or not, we're once again talking about the philosophy of history... To follow our readi…

Have we found the Eve to our Adam Trask? Before we dive into the terrifying world of Cathy Ames, the HEE team talks about Steinbeck's ideas concerning love and faith and continues to wrap their heads around the complex characterization of Adam and Charles. To follow our reading schedule, visit ⁠www.centerforlit.com/hee⁠⁠. Subscribe to our Substack …

This week we're discussing Chapters 4-6 of John Steinbeck's East of Eden. We compare Charles and Adam’s relationship to the Cain and Abel story, wonder about Steinbeck’s use of water imagery, and provide our initial reactions to the Hamilton family. We also reveal the kinds of books we read when we're not reading elephants! To follow our reading sc…

Surprise! How to Eat an Elephant is FINALLY back for our season on John Steinbeck's East of Eden. We kick off our conversation of the first three chapters by discussing the biblical overtones of the novel. We consider themes of genesis as they may come to apply to artistic creation, westward expansion in America, and individual human lives. To foll…

You thought it'd never happen! (We were getting nervous ourselves...) Ian, Megan, and Emily are finally back to reveal the next large book the podcast will be consuming, one bite at a time! We also introduce our new host, Charlotte Andrews! (Just kidding...although she makes a rather insistent contribution to this trailer, she will not be joining u…

Ian, Emily, and Megan follow Jean Valjean down the twisty-turny corridors of his subconscious and try not to get lost along the way. Join the Facebook discussion group here! Follow along with our reading schedule: https://www.centerforlit.com/hee This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus e…

The story of Fantine continues. Meanwhile, we meet both M. Madeleine and Javert: one suspiciously familiar, the other a compelling but unambiguous symbol. Join the Facebook discussion group here! Follow along with our reading schedule: https://www.centerforlit.com/hee This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or…

n this episode, the HEE team walks through Fantine’s tragic backstory and tries to process that firehose of a chapter on “The Year 1817.” Join the Facebook discussion group here! Follow along with our reading schedule: https://www.centerforlit.com/hee This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bo…

This week we are at last introduced to Jean Valjean! The HEE team members discuss “The Fall” and try to pinpoint the conflict which will carry our protagonist throughout the rest of the novel. Join the Facebook discussion group here! Follow along with our reading schedule: https://www.centerforlit.com/hee This is a public episode. If you'd like to …

Our journey begins! Ian, Emily, and Megan discuss “An Upright Man.” They unpack Monseigneur Bienvenu’s character and try to determine why Hugo began his novel from such an indirect angle. Join the Facebook discussion group here! Follow along with our reading schedule: https://www.centerforlit.com/hee This is a public episode. If you'd like to discu…

How to Eat an Elephant is back! Ian, Emily, and Megan kick off their discussion of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables with an introductory overview of the historical context of the novel and author. Download a timeline of relevant French history. Purchase the edition we’re reading. Victor Hugo: A Biography by Graham Robb Join the Facebook discussion grou…

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribeBy CenterForLit