Hello readers! (We missed you.)
Today’s episode marks our official return from summer break. We hope you all had an enjoyable, relaxing, and restful summer filled with fantastic books and time with family and friends.
Today we’re talking about Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, an epic Western novel that we read throughout the summer with our Patreon subscribers. If you’ve never read a Western, don’t let that keep you from engaging in this fantastic story with incredible characters and a captivating setting. There is so much to discuss in this novel, so today’s episode is slightly longer than normal—and we still couldn’t talk about everything we wanted to cover!
If you can’t get enough of Call, Gus, and the Hat Creek Outfit, check out these links:
How the Western was Lost and Why It Matters (The Atlantic)
McMurtry on his Pulitzer Prize (The Pulitzer Prizes)
Remembering Larry McMurtry and his Friendships with Fascinating Women (Vanity Fair)
In case you missed it…
The theme for our next season is Adaptation. We’ll be exploring how adaptations of classic novels have shaped contemporary literature, pop culture, and film. In September, we’re reading Persuasion by Jane Austen, and you can bet we’re going to watch (and analyze the heck out of) THAT adaptation. To see all the fun happenings on Patreon, check out our calendar:
We’d love for you to join our super nerdy community of readers this fall. Here are answers to some FAQ’s about our Patreon community:
Q: What benefits do you get at each tier?
A: At the $5 Literature Lover tier, you’ll receive an exclusive bonus episode each Friday and a special Patreon newsletter at the end of the month. At the $8 Literature Scholar tier, you’ll receive the episodes and newsletter PLUS access to classes and book club events.
Q: Are classes recorded?
A: Yes, classes are recorded. We try to post them a few days after the event so you can catch up at your own pace. We do not record seminars or book club meetings, as everyone is on camera (or on audio with camera off), and we want to keep all patrons comfortable. We do share show notes with links, book titles, and a little summary of our discussion for those who can’t make it, though. Plus our Discord server is always open for you to pop in and chat!
Q: I don’t have time to participate in everything, can I still be a patron?
A: Yes! As a patron, you’re financially supporting our show (and our families) regardless of your participation. We love seeing you in book club or hearing your thoughts on our recent bonus episodes, but we also understand you’re busy. We’re grateful for any support you’re able to offer, and we’re so glad you’re interested in helping us keep the lights on in our proverbial podcast studio.
Readers, we are so excited to be back reading with all of you this fall. To learn more about Novel Pairings University offerings, check out last week's newsletter. Head on over to our Patreon site to sign up so you can enjoy all of the amazing things we have planned for this semester! And don’t forget to share our cozy community of readers with your friends.
We declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book!
Sara and Chelsey