Redwall by Brian Jacques

This week, Mike Carroll raps poetic about the role a mouse book played in his literary life. We talked about Redwall by Brian Jacques, volume 1 of 22; them mice sure get up to mischief! How does Redwall by Brian Jacques hold up? Co-hosted: Nic Hoffmann and Mike Carroll   “One of TIME Magazine’s 100 Read more…

Tintin and the Blue Lotus by Hergé

We are back, baby! Sorry about the delay, life got in the way, but we are back with a graphic novel, this time the Franco-Belgian super star Tintin with Tintin and the Blue Lotus by Hergé. The world’s most famous boy(?) detective helps predict World War II and is highly Read more…

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

This week on Required Reading, we talk race, mental illness, and the Incredible Hulk. We read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, but just want to talk about the rabbits.  Host: Dr. Nic Hoffmann Co-hosts: Mike Burns and Mike Carroll From the Penguin Classics back cover: “They are an Read more…

Just Kids by Patti Smith

This week, for our 50th episode, we talk memoirs, the art scene of the 1970s, the late Robert Mapplethorpe, and the incomparable Patti Smith. We talked Just Kids by Patti Smith.  “WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD “Reading rocker Smith’s account of her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, it’s hard not Read more…

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

This week we deal with an airborne plague that kills everyone to get our mind off of current events. We read Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel.    Back of the book from Vintage:  “NATIONAL BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • A PEN/FAULKNER AWARD FINALIST • Set in the eerie days Read more…

Presidents and the Grand Jury

As last week fades into memory, the pictures of Presidential mug shots are the news item and meme of the day. The dour expression of Trump is representative of a process he calls unprecedented, but as I tell my students, never trust a politician to tell you history. In fact, Read more…

World War Z by Max Brooks

This week we get alllll spooky and cinematic! We talk Zombie apocalypse with World War Z by Max Brooks (also, this one has an incredible audiobook)! Thanks for reading along with us! Our next book will be Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, because we just can’t get optimistic. Host: Nic Co-host: Mike Read more…

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

We start this season in earnest with a classic Cold War espionage thriller, but I can’t remember which one. We read The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum.  From the Bantam summary: “His memory is a blank. His bullet-ridden body was fished from the Mediterranean Sea. His face has been altered by plastic Read more…