
"ARGOS" by Joy Williams (from The Pelican Child) >> Never read Williams? Don't really love short stories? Allow me to change all that.
1/15/2026 | 43 mins.
NO READING REQUIRED! I READ IT TO YOU! Once again we dive into an entire story! In just 45 entertaining, engaging minutes, you'll end up feeling smarter and maybe a little better about DEATH. It's amazing: in three mere pages, Williams takes us well beyond Homer's Odyssey into the kind of land only Williams can create. Kick back and listen to all the reasons why speculation about Williams and the Nobel Prize doesn't seem crazy at all.

"GIRL" by Jamaica Kincaid >> NEW EXPERIENCE! Don't know this incredible short story? I'll read it to you! Complete with thoughts as to why it's soooo good.
1/09/2026 | 35 mins.
NO READING REQUIRED! Kick off 2026 with a new foxed page experience: an entire short story read to you--with my analysis--in one brief(ish) lecture! Come away feeling transported and inspired by true literary genius (Kincaid's, haha, not mine).

"A PERFECT DAY FOR BANANAFISH" by J.D. Salinger >> If you love The Catcher in the Rye or Franny AND Zooey but don't REALLY know this story, you must listen in!
1/02/2026 | 1h
We all read The Catcher in high school (when it was largely wasted on us) but too few of us explore Salinger's short fiction. His stories are SO GOOD. A deep dive into "Bananfish" will not only help you appreciate the inimitable dialogue, the spareness, the characterization and all that makes Salinger one of America's best writers--but you'll end up feeling a little smarter and a little more HUMAN as we kick off 2026.

FLESH by David Szalay >> Just after this won the Booker NO BOOKSTORES had a copy. I got my hands on one. And I might have some VERY HOT TAKES.
12/29/2025 | 40 mins.
I fully agree with the Booker Prize judges that FLESH is "singular" and "extraordinary." I can see why it won! I do, though, have a few arguments to make.

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (and its SEQUEL??) >> Feeling a little Christmas crankiness? Or LOVING the season? Tune in to find out why the Grinch's ENORMOUS presence is what everyone needs.
12/22/2025 | 52 mins.
NO READING REQUIRED! Find out why we are SO DRAWN to this unlikely, enduring classic. Also: I grapple with the sequel.



The Foxed Page