The Foxed Page

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FRANNY AND ZOOEY (but mostly "Zooey") by J. D. Salinger >> Ever wondered why Salinger is SO ENDURING? And what's actually going on with Franny?? Kimberly's about to offer up some answers. Jul 22, 2024

Show notes

We wrap up SALINGER WEEK with a deep dive into "Zooey" (the story) along with a good hard look at FRANNY AND ZOOEY as a whole. This third and final lecture offers up all sorts of gems--from the source of Franny's crisis to a wider look at why Salinger's prose is so incredibly ENDURING.

FRANNY AND ZOOEY (but really just "Franny") by J. D. Salinger >> Even if you haven't read this GEM of a book, tune in to see what makes Salinger's prose SO GOOD. Jul 15, 2024

Show notes

This deep dive is SO deep that Kimberly needs a whole lecture just to discuss "Franny." The first 40 pages of FRANNY AND ZOOEY is not only amazing, but the perfect way to look at what makes all of Salinger's prose so unmistakably SALINGER. (A second Salinger lecture will tackle "A Perfect Day for Bananafish," then we'll dive all the way in to the hugely popular FRANNY AND ZOOEY.)

MARTYR! (the ENDING) by Kave Akbar >> If you think you fully understood the nuance of Kaveh Akbar's (possible double) ending, you might be crazy. Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

Allow Kimberly to point out the intricacies, the nuance, the FACTS of what Akbar is really saying at the end of his insanely great novel. Tune in to hear Kimberly argue a few sides of this coin. She follows Daniel Mendelsohn's advice to treat literature like a social science: look carefully at the DATA. If you're like all the folks on the internet who have real questions about this novel's close, you're in the right place.

MARTYR! by Kaveh Akbar >> Anyone who thinks they've comprehended this masterpiece in one read is insane. Allow Kimberly to help you appreciate why it deserves extensive further thought! Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

People. This is one of the most intense reading experiences Kimberly has had in ages. The book is so smart, so warm and funny and complicated, that Kimberly realized it deserves two lectures! This first one focuses on the narrative stance, the inventiveness, the humor and complicated compendium-like structure (and a possible small debt to David Foster Wallace). The SECOND lecture (coming soon) tackles the novel's insanely great, ambiguous, enigmatic ENDING.

Lecture 62: Elin Hilderbrand's SWAN SONG >> Have an extra good time with the queen of the beach read's LAST NANTUCKET NOVEL. Jul 05, 2024

Show notes

NO SPOILERS! What's summer without a good beach read? By the QUEEN of the beach read?? Kimberly was somewhat alarmed that Hilderbrand is "hanging up her bikini" but thank god we have 26 other Nantucket novels to choose from. People, Hilderbrand is SO GOOD at this stuff. Listen in to find out why her narrative stance, atmospheric elements and structure make these books so solid. (Also: Kimberly has just a few teeny quibbles). There's no such thing as "guilty pleasure" where Hilderbrand is concerned--she's just so good at this stuff!

ALL FOURS by Miranda July >> Have you heard? ALL FOURS is creating a revolution! Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

ALL FOURS is changing how we think about sex, maternity, marriage--and towels. Touted by the New York Times as "the first great peri-menopause novel," it's July's most accessible, most hilarious and most "filthy" (in the best of ways) work. Listen in while Kimberly uses the lens of humor to appreciate the pathos, the sex, the iconoclasm and the tension in this IMPORTANT BOOK.

BILLY COLLINS! >> Explore POETRY (with a close reading of Lord Byron) to more appreciate our uber-popular former-poet-laureate. Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

Who knew that Collins wrote his doctoral dissertation on the romantic poets?? Tune in to hear Kimberly break down the Romantic Movement and Byron's "She Walks in Beauty"--all in preparation to more fully appreciate our nation's "most popular poet"!

THE ANTHOLOGIST by Nicholson Baker >> Do you love poetry? Do you WISH you loved poetry?? This hilarious, inspirational novel will hook you up! Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

Kimberly does not love poetry. Which she considers a personal failure. But it turns out that she LOVES hearing Paul Chowder, narrator of this novel, teach her all about poetry. If you need a lift, and love hilarious, smart books--listen in!

Episode 58: Alice Munro's LIVES OF GIRLS AND WOMEN >> Allow Kimberly to deepen your appreciation of this NOBEL-WINNER's only novel! Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

LIVES OF GIRLS AND WOMEN is Munro's only novel AND it's the ideal way to really dig in to her genius. Listen in now!

NORTH WOODS by Daniel Mason >> Wow is this one worth revisiting. Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

NO READING NECESSARY! Think of this talk as a primer that will ensure you won't miss any of the ZILLION REASONS why North Woods was on all those best-of-2023 lists. This novel is so engrossing and wide reaching. It's smart and rich and just plain fun to read. Listen as Kimberly points out aspects you do not want to miss. Already read it? You'll love this even more!

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