Stay ConnectedTeylor Smirl and John Holt ask you to read along as they explore books that challenge.
We align our thinking with Kafka when he said “I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound or stab us. If the book we’re reading doesn’t wake us up with a blow to the head, what are we reading for?”
Tune-in each week for a lively discussion of books followed by conversation with guests from all backgrounds who share their experiences and enrich the reading.
House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski Part Twelve: Exhibits & Appendices
The Work The tidbits and annotation that the text has referred to and which give more texture to the work. Our question this week: When you make a mental picture of a place, a character, or a phenomena in a book how do you react when those elements are visualized by someone in an adaptation?
The Guest Media critic John Teti, formerly of the A.V. Club joins us as we conclude our interviews for House of Leaves. We discuss interactivity and storytelling.
You can follow John on twitter @johnteti.
The end of the main text for Johnny, Zampano, and the residents of the House. But is it a true ending? Our question this week: What memories do you associate with Halloween?
The Guest: Artist Shell Falcone joins us to discuss their career in capturing events in photo and video. We discuss consent and the responsibility of the photographer, to the subjects, the client, and to the art.
You can find Shell's work on their website Outershellpictures.com
You can follow them on instagram @outershellpictures & twitter @outershellpics.
Next - House of Leaves, Part Twelve: Exhibits & Appendices Our final reading assignment is a loose one, as we explore the Exhibits and Appendices that introduce more questions than they answer.
The Work Darkness against darkness. The heroes prepare all their weapons to combat the house to find themselves and one another. But the House is so big. Our question this week: Would you endure what Will is enduring given the choice?
The Guest Dr. Sydnee McElroy returns to discuss the human body in extreme conditions.
Dr. McElroy is a physician practicing family medicine. She hosts Sawbones, a medical history podcast with her husband as co-host, and she is one of the trio of sister-hosts on the multi-generational podcast, Still Buffering. You can follow Dr. McElroy on twitter @sydneemcelroy. Sydnee recommends getting out and taking a basic life-saving course and for additional reading John Walden's Jungle Travel & Survival.
The Work We're on the other end of the violence, but the trap still calls to the prey. Our question this week: What is a recurring nightmare you've had, if any?
The Guest Beth Nakamura joins us to discuss photojournalism and her role as observer and documenter.
November 20th, 2017 House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski Part Four: Chapters V-VI
The Work Something is stalking Johnny. We learn more about the house and first explorations into the darkness. Among the questions we ask this week: Have you ever been in a physical altercation? Did you initiate it?
The Guest Willem Hartong
November 13th, 2017 House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski Part Three: Chapters V-VI
The Work Something is stalking Johnny. We learn more about the house and first explorations into the darkness. Among the questions we ask this week: Have you ever given or received a letter unbidden or acted in anyway over a one-sided obsession?
The Guest Dr. Sydnee McElroy joins us to discuss human biology and fear. We wonder whether knowledge inoculates against fear or makes us more susceptible to fear.
Dr. McElroy is a physician practicing family medicine. She hosts Sawbones, a medical history podcast with her husband as co-host, and she is one of the trio of sister-hosts on the multi-generational podcast, Still Buffering. You can follow Dr. McElroy on twitter @sydneemcelroy.
Sydnee mentions some additional reading: Mary Roach's books Stiff, Gulp, Spook, & Bonk
Pairings Spirits Former Model What did you trade your career for?
1 1/2 oz vodka 1/2 oz lemon 1/2 oz simple syrup 1/2 oz elderflower liqueur 3 wheels muddled cucumber 4 leaves muddled mint
Build in shaker, muddling herbs and veggies first, shake, serve over rocks in a Collins glass, topped with soda. Garnish with a cucumber wheel
Visual Stimuli Medical Illustrations of Carmella Fifty. A Pinterest of Biological and Green Architecture. The Speedboys' tattoo blog posts.
Next - House of Leaves, Part Four: Chapters VII-VIII Our next reading assignment in House of Leaves; Chapters VII-VIII. We'll be joined by Willem Hartong, songwriter, musician and former classics major, to discuss mythology.
November 6th, 2017 House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski Part Two: The Forward, Introduction, and Chapters I-IV
The Work This is it. We're plunging into the hyper-textual horror romance of Mark Z. Danielewski. The big take-away question: If you were to disappear right now what would be the most mysterious thing you leave behind that keeps people guessing?
The Guest Giaco Furino returns to discuss horror fiction writing at the turn of the century, how it developed, what it looked like around the same time House of Leaves was being published, and a little on how it has continued to develop.
He is a freelance journalist who writes for Vice, Popular Science, and many other publications. He also recently entered The Ranger, the independent horror film he co-wrote with director Jenn Wexler, into the festival circuit. You can find Giaco on twitter @giacofurino on instagram @giacofurino and his writings on his clippings page.
Giaco mentions some additional reading: Carrie by Stephen King Peter Straub's Ghost Story American Psycho by Brett EastonEllis Choke, Lullaby, and Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk Broken Monster byLauren Beukes 30 Days of Night by Stephen Niles & Ben Templesmith Hellboy by Mike Mignola
Pairings
Aural Stimuli
Visual Stimuli The Landscapes, Exteriors, and Interiors of Daniel Danger. Paintings from Joe Coleman. The Dingbat buildings of LA.
Next - House of Leaves, Part Three: Chapters V-VI Our second reading assignment in House of Leaves; Chapters V-VI. We'll be joined by Dr. Sydnee McElroy @sydneemcelroy to discuss physiology and fright.
OCTOBER 30th, 2017 House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski Part One: An Introduction
The Work We lay the ground work for our first novel, House of Leaves. This is the first novel by author Mark Z Danielewski. You can purchase it at most booksellers, online and in person. We aren't discussing any particular reading in this episode. We're providing an overview of the author and a little backstory behind the book before we dive in next week. To prepare for next week we will be reading the Forward and the Introduction.
The Guest Our guest is writer Giaco Furino. He is a freelance journalist who writes for Vice, Popular Science, and many other publications. He also recently entered The Ranger, the independent horror film he co-wrote with director Jenn Wexler, into the festival circuit.
You can find Giaco on twitter @giacofurino on instagram @giacofurino and his writings on his clippings page.
Next - House of Leaves, Part Two: Forward & Intro Our first reading assignment in House of Leaves; the Forward and the Introduction. We will be joined again by guest Giaco Furino (@giacofurino) to discuss contemporary horror and horror writing of the 80's and 90's.
OCTOBER 30th, 2017 The Wine-Dark Sea - Robert Aickman
The Work We discuss Robert Aickman's short story "The Wine-Dark Sea" from the story collection by the same name. The print and ebook are both available.
The Guest Our guest is writer Sarah Lyon. She is a contributor to Vice's Broadly. Sarah practices witchcraft out of New York.
You can find Sarah at sarahlyons.org and on Vice. You can follow her on instagram @citymystic.
Sarah mentions some resources and inspiration: The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley The Witch-Cult in Western Europe by Margaret Murray Aleister Crowley's Thoth tarot deck Barbara Creed's The Monstrous-Feminine Carole Glover's Men, Women and Chain Saws Silvia Federici's Caliban and the Witch Jodorowsky's The Way of the Tarot Arthur E. Waite's Pictorial Key of the Tarot The Rider-Waite Tarot by Waite & Smith Phil Hine's Condensed Chaos Gemma Gary's Cornish Book of Ways The blog of Sarah Anne Lawless Religion and the Decline of Magic by Keith Thomas
Pairings Spirits "The Liquid Rock" There is no soil on the island.
1 oz Brandy 1/2 oz Lemon Juice 1 spoonful Fig Jam 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Shake, top with sparkling Lambrusco
Aural Stimuli
Visual Stimuli Hellenic Art from Athens. The Grecian island Milos. One of the oldest full Tarot sets, the Sola-Busca Tarrochi.
Next House of Leaves, Part One: Overview We're beginning our first novel and with it our first introductory episode. No reading required but feel free to check out Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves for yourself. We will be joined by guest Giaco Furino (@giacofurino) to discuss the genre of horror fiction.
OCTOBER 23rd, 2017 The Garden of Many Forking Paths - Jorge Luis Borges
The Work We discuss Jorge Luis Borges' titular short story from his collection The Garden of Many Forking Paths. An Argentine, Borge's stories were written in Spanish, and there is some legal dispute that has held the release of English translations done by Norman Thomas Di Giovanni in collaboration with Borges himself.
Fans of the author have made these translations available here at the Library of Babel.
The Guest Our guest is artist Felipe Posada. He is a Brooklyn, NY based artist who grew up in Latin America. We discuss the experience of growing up within an educational system learning about the Latin American literature in contrast to North American, or European centric literary education.
You can find Felipe's work at The Invisible Realm, where you can also learn about his upcoming gallery shows and purchase prints of his artwork. You can also follow him on instagram @the_invisible_realm.
Felipe mentions a few other works to seek out: Carlos Castaneda's The Teachings of Don Jaun Adolfo Bioy Casares' The Invention of Morel The Norse Epic Poem The Song of the Nibelungs Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude & Chronicles of a Death Foretold
Pairings Spirits "Vortices" A cocktail that can be served one of three ways.
2 oz Irish Whiskey 1 large spoonful Sugar 1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth 2 dashes Angostura Bitters 2 oz Black Tea (hot or iced) 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
Shake, Stir, or Serve Hot: It's up to you.
Aural Stimuli
Visual Stimuli The works of Xul Solar, artist and friend of Borges The Art Deco Architecture of Francisco Salamone Garden Mazes of Argentina like Parque-El-Descanso
Next The Wine-Dark Sea We'll be discussing titular tale from Robert Aickman's The Wine-Dark Sea and conversing with practicing sorceress Sarah Lyons about women and power.
OCTOBER 23rd, 2017 An Introduction to Wound & Stab
The Show Each week we ask something of you- read a short story or a portion of a novel then join us as we discuss the work. We'll be reading along with you and welcome your feedback and your take on the reading. We'll also be bringing on guests to provide their insights and experiences that will enrich the text.
The Hosts
Teylor Smirl is an illustrator and comic artist, bar manager and cocktail creator from Brooklyn, NY. Her sisters join her as fellow co-hosts of Still Buffering, a podcast that examines the teen experience through the generations. You find her on twitter @teylor_smirl artwork on her art site and her photos on instagram @teylor_squirrel.
John Holt is an animation producer from Brooklyn, NY. He directed and animated web and tv series for a decade before settling at Mixtape Club. He co-hosts a media review podcast New To You Show and a story game podcast Bored Ghost. You can find him on twitter @lordjoho and on instagram @bored_ghost.
Next - The Garden of Many Forking Paths We'll be discussing Argentinian writer, Jorge Luis Borges' short story "Garden of Many Forking Path" and conversing with artist Felipe Posada (@the_invisible_realm) about growing up in the education system of Latin America with regional authors as part of the curriculum. Learn more here.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
