Books And Booze

Books And Booze


Latest Episodes

Roland Topors "The Tenant"
November 30, 2020

Reviewing Roland Topor's "The Tenant', which is a French novel exploring primarily identity. It follows protagonist Trelkovsky and narrates his descent into madness, which raises questions about his i

Gothic Fiction - Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". Part III, Episode III.
October 26, 2020

The venerable Dr. Jekyll, the ignominious Mr. Hyde, the dark, clammy streets of 19th-century London... they're all best enjoyed with a glass of Redbreast 15! This episode, I review the horror fiction

Gothic Fiction - Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein". Part III, Episode II.
October 13, 2020

Monsters, doctors, murders! Are they all one and the same? This week I discuss Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" in all of its Gothic and Romantic glory, while touching on themes of loneliness, companions

Gothic Fiction - Robert Nye's "The Life And Death of My Lord Gilles de Rais". Part III, Episode I.
October 09, 2020

The perfect Christian, demons, chateaus, Joan of Arc, and alchemy! To kick off October, I review Robert Nye's masterpiece 'The Life and Death of My Lord Gilles Rais', a historical fiction telling the

Magical Realism - Machado de Assis' "Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas" or "Epitaph of a Small Winner". Part II, Episode I.
August 17, 2020

This week we have Brazilian legend Machado de Assis' magnum opus (debatable), Epitaph of a Small Winner. Escapades, ruminations, absurdity abound. Listen for a fun kick-off to Part II!

French Bastards - Jean Lorrain's 'Monsieur de Bougrelon'. Part I, Episode III.
August 04, 2020

Reviewing French Decadent Fin de sicle novel "Monsieur de Bougrelon', written by Jean Lorrain in the late 19th century. Brilliant imagery and prose abound,Monsieur de Bougrelon is brilliantly writte

French Bastards - Jean-Paul Sartre's "Nausea". Part I, Episode II.
July 27, 2020

We review existentialist classicNausea written by Jean-Paul Sartre in 1938. Which drink could possibly accompany a novel of such unique, daunting, and horrible nature?

French Bastards - Michel Houellebecq's Serotonin. Part I, Episode I.
July 22, 2020

Episode 1 of Part I: French Bastards. John Wesley reviews the ever-contentious Houellebecq and his latest novel Serotonin. He finishes the episode with a glass of... listen to find out!

Books And Booze: An Introduction Episode
July 20, 2020

Why? And also, what? I introduce myself (briefly) and review what this pod is about: What will each episode entail? What is included in a book review? What are we drinking?Listen to this short introduction episode to find out!