Rereading Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues by Donald J. Sobol
For our third annual Encyclopedia Brown episode, we matched wits with each other and with Encyclopedia in trying to crack the cases in Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues, which was published in 1966. We included the relevant clues in our discussion, so you can solve along with us. We discussed the origins of Bugs Meany's hat and solved the mystery of what state Idaville is in. Also, Mary Grace mispronounced "divining rod" about 15 times. Mentioned on this episode:Other Encyclopedia Brown books:Encyclopedia Brown, Boy DetectiveEncyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret PitchOther Rereading Our Childhood episodes:Rereading Johnny Tremain by Esther ForbesRereading Henry Reed, Inc. by Keith RobertsonAlso mentioned:Goodreads review of Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues by Chance HansenReddit thread on what state Encyclopedia lives in"Donald Sobol and the Case of the Elusive Mystery Writer," interview with Donald Sobol by Elizabeth Weinstein, Oberlin Alumni Magazine, Fall 2011Clip from a 2024 episode of Futurama featuring Wikipedia BrownYou can find Deborah at deborahkalb.com and Mary Grace’s adventures in the 1920s at My Life 100 Years Ago. This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting.Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com
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Rereading The Long Secret by Louise Fitzhugh
For this episode, we reread Louise Fitzhugh's 1965 novel The Long Secret, the sequel to Harriet the Spy. We discussed the mystery of who is leaving notes for residents of Water Mill and Fitzhugh's fascinating but tragic life.Mentioned on this episode:Other books by Fitzhugh: Suzuki Bean by Sandra Scoppettone, illustrated by Fitzhugh (1961)Harriet the Spy (1964)Nobody's Family is Going to Change (1974)Sport (1980)Also mentioned:Sometimes You Have to Lie: The Life and Times of Louise Fitzhugh, Renegade Author of Harriet the Spy, by Leslie BrodyDeborah's interview with Leslie BrodyThe Tap Dance Kid, the musical based on Nobody's Family is Going to Change (highlights here)Gloria Vanderbilt's New York Times review of Harriet the SpyGoodreads reviews of The Long SecretRecommended by Deborah: Freaky Friday and A Billion for Boris by Mary Rodgers; Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy BlumeRecommended by Mary Grace: Magic by the Lake by Edward Eager, The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars, All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney TaylorPrevious episode:Rereading Harriet the Spy by Louise FitzhughYou can find Deborah at deborahkalb.com and Mary Grace at My Life 100 Years Ago. This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting.Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com
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Rereading Little Women, with Jamie Stiehm
On this episode, syndicated columnist Jamie Stiehm joins us to reread Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women, which was published in two parts in 1868 and 1869.Mentioned on this episode:Other books by Alcott: Little Men (1871), Eight Cousins (1874), Rose in Bloom (1876), Jo’s Boys (1886)Also mentioned:Peyton Thomas’s tweet saying Alcott was transPeyton Thomas’s New York Times guest column saying that Alcott was transPeyton Thomas’s podcast Jo’s Boys (on Apple and Spotify)Film adaptations: Little Women (1933), with Katharine Hepburn (trailer here); Little Women (1949), with June Allyson and Elizabeth Taylor (trailer here); Little Women (1994), with Wynona Ryder (trailer here); Little Women (2019), directed by Greta Gerwig (trailer here)Recommended for fans of Little Women:Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Jamie); My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, Men in Trouble by Sarah Payne Stuart, and Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason (Mary Grace); Little House on the Prairie (Deborah)Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why it Still Matters, by Anne Boyd Rioux (2018)March by Geraldine Brooks (2006)You can find Deborah at deborahkalb.com and Mary Grace’s adventures in the 1920s on her blog, My Life 100 Years Ago. You can find Jamie at jamiestiehm.com.This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting.Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com
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Rereading Magic by the Lake by Edward Eager
On this episode, we reread Edward Eager’s 1957 book Magic by the Lake, the sequel to Half Magic, which we discussed during our first season. Mentioned on this episode:The Time Garden and Seven-Day Magic by Edward EagerEager’s New York Times obituaryBy Pike and Dyke by G.A. HentyDeborah’s novels George Washington and the Magic Hat, John Adams and the Magic Bobblehead, and Thomas Jefferson and the Return of the Magic HatThe books of E. Nesbit Songs: “Paddling Madeleine Home,” “Do Do Do What You Done Done Done Before,” “Yes! We Have No Bananas,” “Goodbye, John”Recommended: The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright (Deborah); The Four-Story Mistake by Elizabeth Enright and The Long Secret by Louise Fitzhugh (Mary Grace)Other episodes: Rereading Half Magic, Rereading Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers, Rereading Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, Rereading The Saturdays by Elizabeth EnrightYou can find Deborah at deborahkalb.com and Mary Grace at My Life 100 Years Ago.This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting.Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com
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Rereading Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
On this episode, we reread Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers's beloved 1934 classic. We discuss the difference between the book and the movie version of the magical nanny, changes in the book to remove racist portrayals, and Travers's strange and interesting life. Mentioned on the episode:Other books in the series:Mary Poppins Comes Back (1935)Mary Poppins Opens the Door (1943)Mary Poppins in the Park (1952)Also mentioned: Kathryn Hughes' 2005 Guardian review of Mary Poppins She Wrote: A Biography of P.L. Travers.A Goodreads review of Mary Poppins by Julie G that discusses racism in Mary Poppins. A post on Mary Poppins on the website "American Indians in Children's Literature" Travers's 1996 New York Times obituary (gift link)The trailer for Mary Poppins Returns (2018) Alli Hoff Kosik's childhood rereading podcast, SSR, which recently signed off after seven years.Recommended for fans of Mary Poppins: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Pippi Longstocking (Deborah), The Edward Eager magic books, Ballet Shoes, and Harriet the Spy (Mary Grace) Other episodes mentioned:Rereading Ballet Shoes by Noel StreatfeildRereading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank BaumYou can find Deborah at deborahkalb.com and Mary Grace’s adventures in the 1920s on her blog, My Life 100 Years Ago.This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting.Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com
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