Storytime for Grownups – Season 5, Episode 1: "David Copperfield: Introduction"

Podcast Host: Faith Moore
Release Date: January 5, 2026

Episode Overview

Faith Moore welcomes listeners to the fifth season of Storytime for Grownups, introducing Charles Dickens’s David Copperfield as the new book for an in-depth communal read. This special introductory episode covers what to expect from this season, explains the podcast’s unique "audiobook with notes" style, discusses Dickens's background, and offers context for reading David Copperfield together. Faith also outlines logistical changes due to the book’s length and shares tips on how best to enjoy Dickens’s writing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcome and Podcast Format

Timestamps: 00:00-05:30

• Faith Moore joyfully greets returning and new listeners, expressing her excitement and gratitude for the podcast community.
• She notes this is the show's two-year anniversary, having started in January 2024 with Jane Eyre. Previous reads include Pride and Prejudice, The Woman in White, and Frankenstein, along with Christmas specials (A Christmas Carol, A Little Princess).
• Faith recaps the podcast’s approach: reading classic literature aloud, pausing for brief explanations, and encouraging listener participation through questions—"It's like an audiobook with built-in notes." (01:46)
• The episodes aim to help listeners understand and enjoy classic books, breaking down barriers to access.

2. Community Building and Audience Participation

Timestamps: 05:30-10:15

• Faith describes the growing sense of community and book club atmosphere, inviting listeners to send in questions and share thoughts via her website (faithkmoore.com), with responses often featured in subsequent episodes.
• She highlights additional ways to join, such as the show’s online community, “The Drawing Room,” modeled after Victorian social spaces. There, listeners can chat, attend virtual events, and connect more deeply.
• Listeners are encouraged to check the episode show notes for links to the merch store, online community, and Faith’s website.

3. Logistics for Reading David Copperfield

Timestamps: 10:15-16:30

• Faith explains the practical side:
  • David Copperfield is the longest book tackled so far—her edition runs about 800 pages, versus prior books in the 250–450 range.
  • The length means a change in format: this season will feature one chapter per episode, and will run through spring and into mid-August, pausing the usual “summer session.”
  • Episodes will still come out twice weekly during this time; Faith has pre-recorded chapters to ensure steady content while spending time with her family over the summer.
  • She reassures listeners: "I wanted to share this book with you, so I made that decision and then I worked around it to be able to make it happen." (15:49)

4. Introducing David Copperfield and Charles Dickens

Timestamps: 16:30-19:45, 21:13-28:05

• This isn’t the podcast’s first Dickens—A Christmas Carol was read previously, but Faith offers a succinct recap of Dickens’s background for newer listeners.
• She uses a listener comment (from “HavocJack” in the online Drawing Room community) as a springboard to discuss the unique pleasures and quirks of Dickens's novels.

HavocJack’s Three Tips for Reading Dickens:

(18:44)

1. "Don’t keep waiting for something to happen. Enjoy the story as it goes by. He doesn’t do action movie pacing."
2. "Dickens is gently making fun of nearly everyone in his books. The characters are going to be silly, exaggerated, and a little over the top. Laugh along with it."
3. "Keep an eye on the characters. He has a lot of them and he’ll keep bringing them back. When things do pick up... it’s generally because some of these characters are starting to mix. If you’ve lost track... you won’t enjoy that nearly as much."

• Faith agrees, saying these are "a really fantastic description of Dickens novels and a really helpful place to start" (19:56), especially for David Copperfield, a classic "Bildungsroman"—a coming-of-age story focusing on a protagonist’s moral and psychological development.

5. What is a Bildungsroman?

Timestamps: 20:05-21:13

• Faith defines the term:

  "A Bildungsroman is a novel that deals with the formative years of the main character and in particular with the character's psychological development and moral education... basically, it's a coming-of-age story." (20:23)

• She warns listeners not to expect a tightly plotted thriller, but rather to savor the meandering journey: "Being aware of that and sort of just coming along for the ride is a great way to begin a book like this." (21:09)

6. Dickens’s Writing Style and Characterization

Timestamps: 21:13-23:58

• Dickens’s characters are purposefully exaggerated—“a bit larger than life”—but this enhances their appeal, and Dickens knows "how far to push and also when to stop."
• Faith advises: "You also have permission to laugh at them and to kind of make eye contact with Dickens over the top of your book and like nod, because you get that he’s poking fun at people like this even as he’s making you love them or hate them..." (22:48)
• She promises to help keep track of the many recurring characters, easing potential confusion for listeners.

7. David Copperfield as Semi-Autobiographical

Timestamps: 23:58-26:10

• This book is Dickens’s favorite, and also Faith’s, in part due to its "semi-autobiographical" nature:

  “...he used a lot of elements from his own life to construct the plot. And he used a lot of elements of his own character to create the protagonist, David Copperfield. And you’ll notice that David Copperfield and Charles Dickens share initials. They’re just reversed...” (24:12)

• David Copperfield is the first Dickens novel written entirely in the first person ("I did this, and this happened to me..."), enhancing intimacy.
• Faith intentionally avoids revealing details of Dickens’s life to prevent spoilers but promises to note relevant biographical elements as they arise during the read.

8. Historical and Publication Context

Timestamps: 26:10-28:05

• Dickens lived from 1812 to 1870, making him a Victorian contemporary of Wilkie Collins—author of The Woman in White and friend of Dickens.
• David Copperfield was originally published serially (monthly in 1849-50), and the podcast’s chapter-by-chapter pace mirrors this experience.
• The book marks a transition in Dickens’s output from lighter works (Oliver Twist, Pickwick Papers) to more substantial novels (Bleak House, Great Expectations).
• Written partly from notes intended for an autobiography, Dickens called it “a very complicated weaving of truth and invention.”
• Social reform is a key theme, especially in regard to children and the working class.

9. Victorian Setting

Timestamps: 28:05-29:30

• The story takes place during the Victorian era, dealing mainly with non-aristocratic, working, and middle-class characters.
• Dickens was "very concerned with social reform, particularly reform in the way that children were treated," a focus evident in his works.

10. Closing Thoughts and Next Steps

Timestamps: 29:30-End

• Faith wraps up the introduction, emphasizing not to overload on context and inviting listeners to send questions or reflections before the first reading episode.
• She announces upcoming community events (like monthly “Teatimes”) and reminds listeners to subscribe, check the show notes, and spread the word.
• Reading formally begins on Thursday, January 8th. Faith expresses excitement and anticipation for the shared journey:

  "I think we’re going to have a really fun time living in this world for such a long time... So get ready, tell your friends and join me here on Thursday to begin David Copperfield." (31:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the podcast’s mission:

  "It's like an audiobook with built-in notes." (01:46)

• On Dickens’s favorite work:

  "David Copperfield was Dickens’s favorite of the books he’d written, and it’s my favorite Dickens book as well." (14:54)

• On what to expect from reading Dickens:

  “Don’t keep waiting for something to happen. Enjoy the story as it goes by. He doesn’t do action movie pacing.” (HavocJack, via Faith, 18:44)

• On the length and pacing of the project:

  "David Copperfield is by far the longest book that we have read on Storytime." (11:06) "We’re going to do one chapter per episode this time around, which means that we’ll still be very much in the thick of it when summer rolls around..." (13:09)

• On community participation:

  “It’s become a bit like a book club. It’s become a lot like a community. It’s become pretty much my favorite thing to do except for being a wife and a mom.” (07:28)

• On Dickens’s characterization:

  “The characters in this book are truly some of the most wonderful characters in all, all of literature. But you also have permission to laugh at them...” (22:27)

• On not spoiling the story:

  “I never do spoilers. Those of you who know me know how I feel about spoilers, and if you don’t know, it’s that I hate them.” (04:40)

• On the book’s autobiographical elements:

  “You’ll notice that David Copperfield and Charles Dickens share initials. They’re just reversed... I think that’s intentional to signal to us that this character is, in some ways, at least actually the author...” (24:18)

• On listener support:

  "The more new listeners we get, the longer we'll be able to keep doing this show. And I have lots more books I want to share with you, so I want to be doing this for many years to come." (16:19)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 – Warm introduction and community welcome
• 01:46 – Podcast’s unique audiobook-with-notes format explained
• 05:30 – Listener interaction: how to submit questions and join the community
• 10:15 – David Copperfield’s length and season logistics
• 15:49 – Faith on her decision to tackle the lengthy novel
• 16:30 – Introducing Dickens and previous works covered on the podcast
• 18:44 – HavocJack’s three tips for reading Dickens
• 20:23 – Bildungsroman defined
• 21:13 – Dickens’s writing style and character exaggeration
• 24:12 – Semi-autobiographical nature discussed; reversed initials
• 26:10 – Historical context and original publication
• 28:05 – Victorian era and Dickens’s social themes
• 29:30 – Wrap-up, community updates, and next episode info

Episode Summary

This engaging introduction sets the stage for a months-long exploration of David Copperfield, blending literary guidance, historical context, and a strong communal spirit. Faith Moore enthusiastically embarks on what promises to be an immersive, supportive, and entertaining reading journey—inviting listeners both old and new to dig deep into Dickens, share their experiences, and become active participants in a Victorian literary adventure.