The Literary Life Podcast - Episode 257: "Best of" Series -- Our Literary Lives of 2021

Release Date: December 31, 2024

In this special "Best of" episode, hosts Angelina Stanford, Thomas Banks (referred to as Mr. Banks), and lifelong reader Cindy Rollins reflect on their literary journeys throughout 2021. The conversation delves into their favorite reads, least favorite books, approaches to reading challenges, and aspirations for the upcoming year. This detailed summary captures the essence of their discussions, enriched with notable quotes and insights.

1. Reflecting on the Year in Reading

Angelina Stanford opens the discussion by sharing her reading habits for 2021. Despite her typically high reading pace, she mentions focusing on re-reading certain authors to deepen her understanding:

• "I read more than one book by the same author, so I guess I kind of parked on certain authors." [14:37]

Cindy Rollins reveals her record-breaking year, attributing her success to utilizing audiobooks at double speed, a revelation that significantly boosted her reading capacity:

• "I discovered that my brain likes audiobooks on double speed, and that will get you through some titles." [17:18]

Mr. Banks reflects on his substantial reading volume, highlighting a preference for nonfiction over fiction as he grows older:

• "I've noticed as I've gotten older, I tend to read more nonfiction than fiction." [24:23]

2. Favorite Books and Standouts of 2021

The trio shares their standout books from the year, offering a diverse range of genres and themes:

Cindy Rollins

• "Cranford" by Elizabeth Gaskell: Cindy praises this Victorian novel for its charm and delightful characters.

  • "It was pure delight... a great cast of characters, charmingly written." [28:22]

• "The Odd Women" by George Gissing: A late Victorian novel tackling early feminism and the societal challenges faced by women.

  • "This is one of them... How do women craft a meaningful life if marriage is not in the cards for them?" [41:48]

• "Corsets and Cod" by Karen Bowman: Explores the history of fashion, shedding light on the evolution of garments like pockets.

  • "I learned a ton of interesting things about that." [45:19]

Angelina Stanford

• "The Go Between" by L.P. Hartley: A poignant novel exploring the dangers of innocence and the consequences of misunderstandings.

  • "It's a study of the danger of childish innocence... a novel that sticks with you." [33:46]

• Various Nonfiction Works: Including biographies of Oscar Wilde and Christopher Hitchens, providing deep insights into their lives and philosophies.

  • "It was strikingly solemn... an almost dour book." [35:31]

Mr. Banks

• "Hiking Through" by Paul Stutzman: A true story about finding peace and freedom on the Appalachian Trail after personal loss.

  • "It genuinely was as if I was hiking the trail. And I really lived vicariously through that book." [28:22]

• "The Warden" by Helen McInnes: A gripping narrative that captivated him with its intricate plot and engaging storytelling.

  • "That was an excellent book. It's really fun." [31:23]

3. Least Favorite Books of 2021

Not every read resonated positively with the hosts, and they candidly discuss their disappointments:

Angelina Stanford

• Unnamed Book on Authorial Sins: An infuriating book where authors confess their "sins," criticized for its malice and lack of sophistication.
  • "It was at once like a deeply malicious book in a childishly inane one." [48:02]

Cindy Rollins

• "The Storytelling How Stories Make Us Human": Critiqued for its bleak interpretation of stories as mere coping mechanisms for death.

  • "He was a psychologist whose basic theory was stories are comforting lies we tell ourselves to cope with our impending death." [50:02]

• "Tyrant Shakespeare on Politics" by Stephen Greenblatt: Disappointed with the freudian analysis of Shakespeare's works, finding it reductive and misinterpretative.

  • "He took these speeches of Macbeth and he turned them inside out and made them mean the exact opposite that they mean." [51:33]

Mr. Banks

• "A History of Flowers": Found the book incredibly boring, struggling to engage with its content.

  • "It was so incredibly boring, I couldn't even get through the first chapter." [53:47]

• Unnamed Book Causing Personal Discomfort: Recounts reading a disturbing book that led to regret over certain scenes, choosing not to name it out of respect.

  • "I wish I could forget some scenes in that book." [55:20]

4. Approaches to Reading Challenges

The hosts share their unique strategies for tackling reading challenges, highlighting their diverse approaches:

Cindy Rollins

• Emphasizes flexibility and following her interests without rigid planning.

  • "I go where the spirit leads. I have no plan." [73:37]

• Utilizes multitasking, such as doing puzzles while listening to audiobooks, to maintain focus:

  • "I sit at the table with my iPad on a book on high speed and just go to town on that puzzle." [63:21]

Angelina Stanford

• Integrates her reading with her teaching, often inspired by course requirements or webinar preparations.

  • "I read probably a good, a good handful, probably four or five books about World War I." [74:04]

• Prefers exploring historical contexts to enhance her understanding of literature.

  • "I want to read a history of that decade, you know, 1900 to 1910." [74:38]

Mr. Banks

• Balances a mix of fiction and nonfiction, often influenced by recommendations and personal interests.

  • "I keep going through this. I've read Trollope here and there." [75:04]

• Finds goal-setting through numbers helpful for maintaining reading discipline.

  • "The number helps me not be undisciplined in areas where I should be." [26:58]

5. Anticipations for the New Year

Looking ahead, the hosts share their literary aspirations and areas they wish to explore:

Angelina Stanford

• Plans to delve deeper into Edwardian England history to complement her literary studies.
  • "I just bought a history of... Charles Petrie because I've been, you know..." [74:46]

Cindy Rollins

• Continues to embrace a spontaneous reading approach, allowing her interests to guide her selections.
  • "I have many, many, many books going at the same time because I teach a lot of classes..." [76:38]

Mr. Banks

• Aims to read more classics and expand his understanding of them, while maintaining his interest in both fiction and nonfiction.
  • "I'm still, I still haven't caught up with the classics, all of them, so well." [75:04]

6. Notable Insights and Quotes

Throughout the episode, several thought-provoking quotes encapsulate the hosts' philosophies on literature and reading:

• On Literature's Nature:
  "Literature's world is a concrete human world of immediate experience... The novelist is concerned with telling stories, not with working out arguments." – Cindy Rollins [05:32]

• On Adaptability and Seasons of Life:
  "Being able to adapt to those seasons is one of life's key measures of happiness." – Mr. Banks [16:29]

• On Stories and Transformation:
  "When you read a story, you are entering into an experience, and that experience can transform you and it can transform your mind and your thoughts, but it does it through this experience of concrete images and not through an abstract argument." – Cindy Rollins [08:11]

Conclusion

Episode 257 of The Literary Life Podcast offers a heartfelt and insightful retrospective of 2021's literary experiences for Angelina Stanford, Thomas Banks, and Cindy Rollins. Their diverse reading selections, candid discussions on favorite and least favorite books, and varied approaches to reading challenges provide listeners with valuable perspectives on cultivating a rich literary life. As they look forward to the new year, their enthusiasm for exploring new genres and deepening their literary understanding continues to inspire fellow book lovers.

Note: Advertisements, promotional segments, and non-content discussions were omitted to focus solely on the meaningful conversations and literary reflections of the episode.