Two Month Review

Latest Episodes:

TMR 16.1: "Roberto Bolaño Overview" [2666] Oct 07, 2021

Show notes

Season 16 is here! At long last, Bolaño's 2666 takes center stage, and Chad and Brian are joined by translator and Bolaño enthusiast, Katie Whittemore. In this opening episode, they discuss the myth-making of Bolaño's biography, they talk about sudden fame, the grind of the artist, and of the way that everything is read as genius once someone is declared a genius. They talk about Last Words on Earth by Javier Serena and Katie Whittemore, and they preview 2666 talking about the "black holes" of the novel (which ties into Bolaño's "Infrarealist Manifesto") and discussing the not-quite-bestselling Caitlyn Reads 2666.

This week's music is "Airplane Rider" by Air Miami.

If you'd prefer to watch the conversation, you can find it on YouTube along with all our past episodes.

Follow Open Letter, Chad Post, and Brian Wood for random thoughts and information about upcoming guests.

Be sure to order Brian's book, Joytime Killbox, which is available at better bookstores everywhere thanks to BOA Editions. And all of Katie's translations, especially Four by Four and Last Words on Earth.

You can also support this podcast and all of Open Letter's activities by making a tax-deductible donation through the University of Rochester.

TMR 15.15: "The End" [Vernon Subutex] Jul 22, 2021

Show notes

Chad and Brian recap the wild end to Vernon Subutex, debate whether it was predictable or not, whether Despentes earned it or not, and what to make of the proto-history chapter that rounds out the trilogy. And, in classic TMR fashion, the episode ends abruptly when Chad's wifi suddenly dies. (Technical difficulties for the win.)

This week's music is a new cover of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill."

If you'd prefer to watch the conversation, you can find it on YouTube along with all our past episodes.

Follow Open Letter, Chad Post, and Brian Wood for random thoughts and information about upcoming guests.

Be sure to order Brian's book, Joytime Killbox, which is available at better bookstores everywhere thanks to BOA Editions.

You can also support this podcast and all of Open Letter's activities by making a tax-deductible donation through the University of Rochester.

TMR 15.14: "And Then Evil Showed Its Face" [Vernon Subutex] Jul 12, 2021

Show notes

Covering what's probably the most disturbing section of Vernon Subutex, this is an intense, fairly dark episode of the Two Month Review. They discuss how the most evil character is a manager/agent, about how men are everywhere, ready to ruin things, and much more. On the upside, Chad and Brian recorded early in the morning, so their voices have some extra depth . . .

If you'd prefer to watch the conversation, you can find it on YouTube along with all our past episodes. You can join us on Wednesday, July 14th, ask questions, make comments, and correct inaccurate statements. Here's where you can find the complete reading schedule.

Follow Open Letter, Chad Post, and Brian Wood for random thoughts and information about upcoming guests.

Be sure to order Brian's book, Joytime Killbox, which is available at better bookstores everywhere thanks to BOA Editions.

You can also support this podcast and all of Open Letter's activities by making a tax-deductible donation through the University of Rochester.

TMR 15.13: "Gangland Shooting" [Vernon Subutex] Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

Chad almost had to do this episode solo, but all of you were spared that catastrophe by Kaija Straumanis and David Smith (whose delay makes for some funny moments). The talk about what you would do for $100 million dollars, what most terrifies them, fear in general, Max as Lex Luthor, and much more.

This week's music is from the Velvet Underground and, ugh, Korn. Sorry.

If you'd prefer to watch the conversation, you can find it on YouTube along with all our past episodes. You can join us on Thursday, July 8th, ask questions, make comments, and correct inaccurate statements. Here's where you can find the complete reading schedule.

Follow Open Letter, Chad Post, and Brian Wood for random thoughts and information about upcoming guests.

Be sure to order Brian's book, Joytime Killbox, which is available at better bookstores everywhere thanks to BOA Editions.

You can also support this podcast and all of Open Letter's activities by making a tax-deductible donation through the University of Rochester.

TMR 15.11: "Everyone's Been Talking to Me About You" [Vernon Subutex] Jun 18, 2021

Show notes

Following up on last week's catastrophic technical difficulties, Brian recaps some of his conversation with Frank Wynne before he and Chad dive into volume three of Despentes's Vernon Subutex. They talk about hippies, Dan Deacon, cults, Cultish, Vernon's purity, and much more.

This week's music is "The Crystal Cat" by Dan Deacon. (Click here to see one of his "convergences.")

If you'd prefer to watch the conversation, you can find it on YouTube along with all our past episodes. You can join us on Thursday, June 24th, ask questions, make comments, and correct inaccurate statements. Here's where you can find the complete reading schedule.

Follow Open Letter, Chad Post, and Brian Wood for random thoughts and information about upcoming guests.

Be sure to order Brian's book, Joytime Killbox, which is available at better bookstores everywhere thanks to BOA Editions.

You can also support this podcast and all of Open Letter's activities by making a tax-deductible donation through the University of Rochester.

TMR 15.9: "You Shouldn't Have Hurt My Mother" [Vernon Subutex] Jun 07, 2021

Show notes

Chad and Brian get into some fun and vengeful parts of Vernon Subutex 2 this week, talking about Gaëll, the proliferation of diereses in this section, getting revenge, Vernon's magical music, and more.

This week's music is "The Modern World" by The Jam.

If you'd prefer to watch the conversation, you can find it on YouTube along with all our past episodes. You can join us on Thursday, June 10th, ask questions, make comments, and correct inaccurate statements. Here's where you can find the complete reading schedule.

Follow Open Letter, Chad Post, and Brian Wood for random thoughts and information about upcoming guests.

Be sure to order Brian's book, Joytime Killbox, which is available at better bookstores everywhere thanks to BOA Editions.

You can also support this podcast and all of Open Letter's activities by making a tax-deductible donation through the University of Rochester.

TMR 15.12: "New Age Bullshit" [Vernon Subutex] Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

Kate Sherrod joined Chad and Brian on this episode to talk about the TV show version of Vernon Subutex, about which characters she's missing the most, and why this section dragged a bit. A very fun—and fruitful—discussion that lead to a better understanding of how this volume is constructed.

This week's music is Rihanna and Big Sean. Enjoy!

If you'd prefer to watch the conversation, you can find it on YouTube along with all our past episodes. You can join us on Thursday, July 1st, ask questions, make comments, and correct inaccurate statements. Here's where you can find the complete reading schedule.

Follow Open Letter, Chad Post, and Brian Wood for random thoughts and information about upcoming guests.

Be sure to order Brian's book, Joytime Killbox, which is available at better bookstores everywhere thanks to BOA Editions.

You can also support this podcast and all of Open Letter's activities by making a tax-deductible donation through the University of Rochester.

TMR 15.8: "Bourgeois Shitdick!" [Vernon Subutex] Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

Kaija Straumanis pinch hits this week to talk about Céleste, about spray painting insults, the best forms of revenge, how to upend a system, and whether of not a good dad can be an alcoholic. This episode is a great prelude to one of the major plot points of the trilogy, so listen to this and get ready for next week . . .

This week's music is "They'll Never" by Stef Chura.

If you'd prefer to watch the conversation, you can find it on YouTube along with all our past episodes. You can join us on Thursday, June 3rd, ask questions, make comments, and correct inaccurate statements. Here's where you can find the complete reading schedule.

Follow Open Letter, Chad Post, and Brian Wood for random thoughts and information about upcoming guests.

Be sure to order Brian's book, Joytime Killbox, which is available at better bookstores everywhere thanks to BOA Editions.

You can also support this podcast and all of Open Letter's activities by making a tax-deductible donation through the University of Rochester.

The large image associated with this post is copyrighted by Ittmust.

TMR 15.7: "You Don't Look Your Best" [Vernon Subutex] May 21, 2021

Show notes

Derek Maine returns for his second appearance this season to talk about Alex Bleach's tapes, Vodka Satana's death, how the system is rigged, horrible men, the complications of passing judgement, Motörhead, mushroom powder, and much more. This is a pretty key episode, as the trilogy veers into detective novel territory, and the conflict with Dopalet becomes more well defined.

If you'd prefer to watch the conversation, you can find it on YouTube along with all our past episodes. You can join us on Thursday, May 20th, ask questions, make comments, and correct inaccurate statements. Here's where you can find the complete reading schedule.

This week's music is "Eat the Rich" by Motörhead.

Follow Open Letter, Chad Post, and Brian Wood for random thoughts and information about upcoming guests.

Be sure to order Brian's book, Joytime Killbox, which is available at better bookstores everywhere thanks to BOA Editions.

You can also support this podcast and all of Open Letter's activities by making a tax-deductible donation through the University of Rochester.

TMR 15.6: "Looking for Subutex" [Vernon Subutex] May 17, 2021

Show notes

Chad and Brian go it alone this week to talk about whether this is one book or three (or three "seasons" of one book), or how Xavier and Patrice are both awful people but in entirely different ways, the breadth of characterization in Despentes's writing, all the jokes you can make knowing "Subutex" is Methadone, how to properly store gasoline in plastic bags, and much more.

This week's music is "Toe Cutter - Thumb Buster" by Thee Oh Sees. If you want to see/listen to/contribute to the Vernon Subutex playlist on Spotify that Kate Sherrod set up, just follow the link below and enjoy!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Q4WIt3ueJdCvadjEaCbc?si=jnn5RNyuR_2Ro4A5w0PV7g

Follow Open Letter, Chad Post, and Brian Wood for random thoughts and information about upcoming guests.

Be sure to order Brian's book, Joytime Killbox, which is now officially available at better bookstores everywhere thanks to BOA Editions.

You can also support this podcast and all of Open Letter's activities by making a tax-deductible donation through the University of Rochester.

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