From the Front Porch – Episode 556

Conquer a Classic 2026 Announcement
Date: November 20, 2025
Host: Annie Jones

Episode Overview

In this special and concise episode, Annie Jones—owner of The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia—announces the 2026 selection for the beloved annual “Conquer a Classic” reading challenge. For the first time, the program will dive into a short story collection: The Complete Stories by Flannery O’Connor. Annie details the new format, discusses enhancements for Patreon supporters, and shares her personal enthusiasm for O’Connor’s work and Southern literature.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Purpose & Evolution of “Conquer a Classic”

• The program began in 2020 to tackle “white whale” classics over ten months with community accountability.
  • Previous selections included Anna Karenina, Middlemarch, Count of Monte Cristo, Bleak House, Lonesome Dove, and Don Quixote.
• Motivation:
  • Read classics “we wouldn't make time for without holding each other accountable.” (01:00)
  • Embracing slow, deliberate reading as “a spiritual practice, a kind of in your face to a world that moves fast and is slowly ruining my attention span.” (02:02)

The 2026 Selection: Flannery O’Connor’s The Complete Stories

• First time tackling a short story collection, and notably, the shortest book in the program’s history (~550 pages).
• All of O’Connor’s short stories will be read and discussed over ten months.
  • “By November of 2026, we will have read every short story O’Connor ever wrote.” (03:30)
• Annie acknowledges the challenge and difference:
  • “Just because these are short stories does not make them easy, does not make them super digestible.” (13:45)
  • This year’s selection aims to offer a different literary challenge while feeling more accessible.

Patreon Reading Tiers and What’s New

• $5/month Tier: Access to monthly recap episodes discussing 3-4 stories at a time, plus the digital reading guide and all previous classics content.
• $20/month Tier: In addition to short stories, quarterly book club discussions (comment-based on Patreon) and video introductions for O’Connor’s:
  • Wise Blood (February)
  • The Violent Bear It Away (May)
  • Mystery and Manners (August)
  • Bonus: Recaps of two films—Flannery (2019) and Wildcat (2023).
  • All content is asynchronous and discussion-based rather than live, for accessibility and convenience:
    “People want a book club, but it's hard to join at the times we set… so all of these book club conversations… will all take place on Patreon in the comments.” (07:45)
• Book bundle (all four works) available at a discounted price through The Bookshelf.
• Membership and book purchases are open to all, with accommodations for existing books.

Thematic and Practical Motivations

• Annie notes that short stories are often less read by the general public and sellers, hoping to increase appreciation and conversation around the form.
• “I also felt like a Georgia bookstore should tackle a Georgia author. And there’s a lot to untangle about Flannery, and I’m ready to untangle it together.” (14:20)
• Expresses that the new format could be replicated in the future for other authors, e.g., The Brontës or Fitzgerald.
• On accessibility for busy readers: “Reading short stories feels digestible and doable… I did conquer Don Quixote, and I'm really proud of myself for doing that, particularly postpartum. But I like that we’ll be reading two or three short stories [a month].” (12:30)

Personal Reflections

• Annie shares her own connection to Flannery O’Connor, including reading Mystery and Manners in high school and revisiting some stories in 2021.
  • “It kind of changed how I thought of myself, changed what I thought about writing and Southern writing in particular.” (17:20)
• Adventures in Milledgeville, O’Connor’s hometown, and the idea of a pilgrimage with listeners at the end of 2026.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On “Conquer a Classic” philosophy:
  “I have come to think of reading slowly and deliberately as a spiritual practice, a kind of in your face to a world that moves fast and is slowly ruining my attention span.” – Annie (02:02)

• On the O'Connor selection:
  “I also felt like a Georgia bookstore should tackle a Georgia author. And there's a lot to untangle about Flannery, and I'm ready to untangle it together.” – Annie (14:20)

• On the new short story format:
  “Just because these are short stories does not make them easy, does not make them super digestible. There will be plenty to discuss together, plenty to scratch our heads over.” – Annie (13:45)

• On book club accessibility:
  “People want a book club, but it's hard to join at the times we set, and it’s hard for Bookshelf staffers. …All these book club conversations… will all take place on Patreon in the comments.” – Annie (07:45)

• Personal enthusiasm:
  “I'm so excited. I hope you can see how excited I am. Oh, or here. I hope you can hear how excited I am.” – Annie (17:49)

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:07 | Annie introduces herself and the 2026 “Conquer a Classic” | | 01:00 | The origins and intentions behind “Conquer a Classic” | | 03:30 | 2026’s selection: Flannery O’Connor’s Complete Stories | | 05:10 | Patreon format and access details | | 07:45 | New asynchronous, comment-based book club discussions | | 12:30 | Reflections on short stories’ accessibility | | 13:45 | Literary challenge posed by O’Connor’s short fiction | | 14:20 | Georgia author, personal motivations | | 17:20 | Annie’s personal connection to Flannery O'Connor | | 17:49 | Annie’s excitement and encouragement to join |

Final Notes

• All information and details for joining are on the Patreon page (patreon.com/fromthefrontporch) and The Bookshelf’s website.
• The program officially begins in January 2026, with books shipping in December 2025.
• Annie teases a possible group trip to Milledgeville, O’Connor’s hometown, to celebrate the reading journey’s conclusion.
• Listeners are invited to participate at their own pace—and revisit past classics through back episodes.

Host Tone:
Enthusiastic, warm, accessible, and encouraging—Annie builds excitement for exploring O’Connor’s complex and challenging works in a supportive, community-based way.