Functionally Literate
It's a book club! Join Ryan and his friends every other Tuesday as they discuss books in a relaxed and casual atmosphere (and also tell you all about businesses they aren't sponsored by). From Mythology and Swords & Sorcery to Urban Fantasy or History, this book club is all about having a good time while exploring diverse literary genres. Currently, the club is making its way through: Le Morte d'Arthur The Obelisk Gate (Broken Earth, Book 2)
Episodes
(3/7) Jija finds the comm he's looking for. We discover Castrima has enemies. Nassun tells Schaffa about her mother.
Link dump:
Read along with us! You can buy the book here. This episode is brought to you by Gregg Bush. Please support his campaign for MO House District 50 by donating to his ActBlue. Support us on Patreon and get a...
(2/7) Boilbugs are gross. Hoa tries to explain stone eaters. Nassun discovers how to manipulate her father. We discover Magic!
Read along with us! You can buy the book here. Come see Julia and Ryan perform Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap at the Maplewood Barn Community Theatre, May 16th-19th, and May 23rd-26th, 2024. The address is 2900 E Nifong Blvd, Columbia, MO 65201. Box office opens at 7 PM, show begins at 8 PM. Conc...
(1/7) Nassun catches her father red-handed. We summon a couple of obelisks. Schaffa survives Meov.
Link dump:
Read along with us! You can buy the book here. This episode is brought to you by Gregg Bush. Please support his campaign for MO House District 50 by donating to his ActBlue. Support us on Patreon and get ad-fre...
(2/2) The boys finish recounting the exploits of Sir Gawaine, then tell of the adventures of Sir Tor and King Pellinore.
Read along with us! Zach is reading a version of the text adapted into modern idiom. Ryan is reading a more archaic version of the text that you can download digitally for free.
This episode is brought to you by Gregg Bush. Please support his campaign for MO House District 50 by donating to his Ac...
Ryan, Julia, and Zach all get together for the first time to discuss the podcast on its 1st anniversary. They play a game, discuss their favorite episodes, and chat about the Fifth Season (heavy spoilers).
(1/2) Zach returns to book club to talk to Ryan about the story of King Arthur's wedding to Lady Guinevere and the three adventures that resulted therein. Read along with us! Zach is reading a version of the text adapted into modern idiom. Ryan is reading a more archaic version of the text that you can download digitally for free.
This episode is brought to you by Gregg Bush. Please support his campaign for MO House Distri...
(8/8) We find an old friend. Syenite's world comes crashing down. Alabaster has an important question. Read along with us! You can buy the book here. This episode is brought to you by Gregg Bush. Please support his campaign for MO House district 50 by donating to his ActBlue. Support us on Patreon and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation on PayPal. Produced, directed, and edited by: Ryan Carter
Hosted by: ...
(7/8) Essun discovers an underground crystal city. Syenite and Alabaster get settled in Meov and take a lover.
Link dump:
Read along with us! You can buy the book here. You can also support us on Patreon for $1 and get access to an exclusive ad-free Spotify feed! Or make a one-time donation on PayPal.
Produced, directed, and edited by: Ryan Carter
Hosted by: Ryan Carter & ...
(6/8) We discover a comm like no other. Syenite wakes on an island. Damaya makes a discovery that will impact the rest of her life.
Read along with us! You can buy the book here.
Support us on Patreon and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation on PayPal.
Produced, directed, and edited by: Ryan Carter
Hosted by: Ryan Carter & Julia Carney
Audio recordist: Chris D. Mooney
(5/8) Syenite discovers a new toy, then breaks it. Hoa is having a hard time tracking our daughter as easily as he used to. Read along with us! You can buy the book here.
Support us on Patreon and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation on PayPal.
Produced, directed and edited by: Ryan Carter
Hosted by: Ryan Carter & Julia Carney
Audio recordist: Chris D. Mooney
(4/8) Something is missing! Do you know what it is? Also, what is up with those obelisks and stone eaters? These mysteries are so enticing. Read along with us! You can buy the book here.
Support us on Patreon for a dollar! Or make a one-time donation on PayPal.
Produced, directed and edited by: Ryan Carter
Hosted by: Ryan Carter & Julia Carney
Audio Recordist: Chris D. Mooney
(3/8) This is a juicy one, folks. True colors are revealed! Secrets of the Stillness are discovered. Speculations about Guardians are made. Read along with us! You can buy the book here. Link dump:
You can support us on Patreon for $1 per month! Or make a one-time donation on PayPal. All proceeds will go toward books, overhead, and improving the show. ...
(2/8) Ryan and Julia are really starting to get into the book now. They feel like they know who the players are, but they're still figuring out the game...though, that's not stopping them from coming up with a hypothesis about the plot. Read along with us! Buy the book here.
Link dump (AKA books we mentioned):
The Way of Kings [ Physical / Audio ]
Crescent City [ Physical / Audio ]
(1/8) Join Ryan and Julia (her first episode!) as they chat about The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin. We dive into the Stillness, a world under constant threat of earthquakes. We kick things off with the end of the world, both literally and for one of our main characters. Read along with us! Buy the book here.
Link dump (AKA books we mentioned):
The City We Became [ Physical / Audio ]
If you like us, support us on ...
The boys conclude dipping their toes into Eastern Mythology. Zach talks about Izanami and Izanagi, the birth of Kagu-tsuchi, the god of fire, and the adventures of Susanoo, the Storm God. Zach's source is The Holy Kojiki. Ryan's source is The Japanese Myths: A Guide to Gods, Heroes and Spirits. Next episode, Ryan and Julia will be reading The Fifth Season! Nab yourself a copy, and read along with us. Keep an eye out for po...
Zach tells the story of Guan Yu, the God of War. Ryan tells the story Magical Arts, a tale about a rich man and a Necromancer, and then discusses the Immortal Eight, people who ascended to godhood by attaining the "secret wisdom." The book our stories comes from is Chinese Myths and Folk Tales, a compendium of public domain works sold as a single book by Barnes & Noble. Support us on Patreon and get ad-free episo...
(2/2) The boys talk about meditation, prayer, the remainder of the Buddha's life and his death, and tell two jatakas, short stories from the Buddha's past lives. Zach's source is Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists, by Ananda K. Coomaraswamy and Sister Nivedita. Ryan's source is Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction, by Damien Keown, and Buddhisms: An Introduction, by John S. Strong.
Support us on Patreon and g...
(1/2) The boys discuss Buddhism. This episode is about the Buddha's journey to enlightenment, how he attained Nirvana in life and the 4 Noble Truths as discussed in the first sermon he delivered. Zach's source is Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists, by Ananda K. Coomaraswamy and Sister Nivedita. Ryan's source is Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction, by Damien Keown.
Support us on Patreon and get ad-free episodes! ...
(3/3) We conclude our telling of the tale of Balin le Savage, the Knight with the Two Swords. Balin defeats the Invisible Knight, delivers the dolorous stroke, and travels to an island where he fights his best friend to the death. Also, Cara provides us with a moral of the story. Zach is reading a physical copy of the book. Ryan is reading a free ebook version that you can download here.
Support us on Patreon and get ad-free e...
(2/3) We continue telling the tale of Balin le Savage, the Knight with the Two Swords. Balin helps bury a dead damsel, succeeds in his quest for redemption, aids King Arthur in his war against 11 kings, and begins a new quest to find the Invisible Knight. Zach is reading a physical copy of the book. Ryan is reading a free ebook version that you can download here.
Support us on Patreon and get ad-free episodes! Or make a on...
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