Episode 11.1: "Brokeback Mountain" by Annie Proulx

12/06/21 • 25 min

Literary Guise: A Book Club for Modern Men

We finish up the first season of Literary Guise with one of author Zachary Kellian's favorite works of fiction. Will co-host Gordon Macallan like it too (yes, yes he will. This is Annie Proulx we're talking about. A living legend in American literature.)
You definitely want to read this piece. It's much more than that "gay cowboy story." It's a masterpiece about masculinity in its coarsest form. And it's one of the most heartfelt and accurate portrayals of love ever put to the page.

Previous Episode

A Reading: "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" by Ernest Hemingway

Through a special arrangement with the Ernest Hemingway Foundation, we present a dramatic reading of one of the greatest short stories of all-time: "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place," by Papa himself.
Stay tuned for a discussion of its themes (at 8min 33 sec) with author Zachary Kellian and noted bibliophile, Dr. Gordon MacAllan.
Literary legend, James Joyce, had this to say about this month's reading:
"[Hemingway] has reduced the veil between literature and life, which is what every writer strives to do. Have you read 'A Clean Well-Lighted Place'?...It is masterly. Indeed, it is one of the best short stories ever written..."

Next Episode

Episode 11.2: "Brokeback Mountain" by Annie Proulx

We finish off our first full season of Literary Guise with another conversation exploring the themes of Brokeback Mountain. Far from just "that gay cowboy story," it's one of the best explorations of masculinity in modern literature. We talk about the love between Ennis and Jack, but we also explore the powerful female characters existing in the fringes of these men's lives. A special thanks to our favorite drinking locale on earth: The Stardust for allowing us to occupy a booth for hours every week and talk about challenging issues. Stay tuned in early 2022 for a new season of Literary Guise!