Lit Society: Books and Drama

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster is a whimsical adventure about Milo, a bored young boy who discovers a special tollbooth that transports him to the fantastical Kingdom of Wisdom. Alongside his companions—a watchdog named Tock and the loyal Humbug—Milo journeys through pun-filled lands to rescue the princesses Rhyme and Reason. Bursting with wit, wordplay, and wonder, this classic reminds readers of the joy of curiosity and t...

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes is a heart-wrenching love story between Louisa Clark, a small-town woman searching for purpose, and Will Traynor, a once-vibrant man now confined to a wheelchair after an accident. As their worlds collide, Louisa's warmth and optimism challenge Will's cynicism, leading to a bond that transforms them both in unexpected ways. Tender, funny, and profoundly emotional, this novel asks what it truly mea...

Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is a haunting portrait of Willy Loman, an aging salesman chasing the American Dream long after it’s begun to slip away. Torn between pride and despair, Willy struggles to reconcile the life he imagined with the reality before him—and to earn the love and success he’s always believed he deserves. Both intimate and universal, the play exposes the fragile hopes that drive us all, making it o...

This collection of short stories explores the sweeping themes of belonging, identity, and home through the lives of women scattered across the globe from their island origins.

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The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed is a coming-of-age novel set in Los Angeles during the 1992 Rodney King riots. It follows Ashley Bennett, a Black teenager from a wealthy family, as she begins to see the sharp contrasts between her privileged world and the realities her community faces. Both powerful and deeply personal, the book explores identity, friendship, and what it means to find your voice in times of turmoil.

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Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli is a poignant debut novel about love, loss, and the arduous journey toward healing. It follows a woman grappling with grief while rediscovering her own strength and identity. At its heart, it’s a story about resilience, community, and the hope that life can bloom again after heartbreak.

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Slay by Brittney Morris follows Kiera Johnson, a teen coder who secretly creates an online role-playing game celebrating Black culture. As her game grows in popularity, it becomes a safe haven for thousands of players navigating both identity and community. The novel explores empowerment, creativity, and the challenges of carving out a space where you truly belong.

The Book: Slay by Brittney Morris

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00:00 Intro and ca...

The chilling true story of a brutal family murder in a small Kansas town—and the two drifters who committed it. With haunting detail and literary precision, Truman Capote delves into the minds of the killers, the grief of the community, and the fragile boundary between good and evil.

The Book: In Cold Blood

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Two sisters in Nazi-occupied France choose different paths—one struggles to protect her daughter while living under enemy rule, the other risks everything to join the Resistance. This is a heartbreaking and inspiring tale of survival and sacrifice that celebrates the extraordinary strength of women in the face of unimaginable odds.

The book: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

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Set in Nazi-occupied France, The Nightingale follows two sisters—one cautious and reserved, the other bold and rebellious—as they each fight to survive and resist in their own way. As war tests their courage and loyalty, both women are drawn into dangerous choices that will define their legacy.

The book: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

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Two girls from different racial backgrounds meet in a shelter and form a complicated, lifelong bond. As they reunite at various points in their lives, shifting memories and buried prejudices force them—and the reader—to confront how race, class, and personal history shape perception. The result is a reading experience as powerful as it is provocative.

The short story: Recitatif by Toni Morrison

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In the shadowy depths of the Cold War, retired British intelligence officer George Smiley is called back to uncover a Soviet mole buried deep within the highest ranks of MI6. Smiley must outwit an enemy hiding in plain sight as he navigates a treacherous world of half-truths, betrayal, and old loyalties. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a subtle, cerebral, and utterly gripping masterclass in espionage fiction.

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After Maddy Montgomery is left at the altar by her Fiance, M.D., she learns she's inherited her aunt's bakery and decides to start anew in Small Town, Michigan. But not even a week after her move, Maddy finds herself the prime suspect in a real-life murder. Will our designer-label-loving heroine solve the case before her Gucci goose is cooked?

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Careless People is a riveting exposé that uncovers how ambition and entitlement at the highest levels of power can erode truth, ethics, and democracy itself. Through gripping storytelling, Sarah Wynn-Williams delivers a chilling reminder of what's lost when idealism gives way to unchecked greed.

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We begin this week's episode with a tour of hidden and secret libraries worldwide (2:00). Then, let's continue with the conclusion of The Shadow of the Wind (10:45). Daniel unravels the tragic end of Julián Carax, uncovers a heartbreaking love story buried beneath layers of deception, vengeance, and sacrifice. In a climactic confrontation, long-hidden truths come to...

In post-war Barcelona, a young boy named Daniel discovers a mysterious novel, The Shadow of the Wind, only to learn that someone has been systematically destroying every copy of the author's works. As he delves into the book's secrets, Daniel becomes entangled in a dark, decades-old mystery of love, betrayal, and revenge that mirrors the story within the pages. Atmospheric, haunting, and full of twists, Carlos Ruiz Zafón's novel is...

This is a Patreon Member Exclusive Episode (PMEE), meaning you must be a paid member of our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/c/litsocietypod) to hear the entire episode. Today's book is about a death doula who attends death cafes to avoid pragmatically taking hold of her own life. If you have no idea what a death doula or a death cafe is, listen on. We'll break it down.

America's biggest city is full of people dying alone, filled w...

Hey there, Team LITeratti and welcome to SEASON SIX of LIT Society!!! ("noises of celebration")

We're so happy to be back with you and discussing AMAZING books and stories. We begin this episode by catching up and letting you all know what we've been doing with our time away (00:00). Then we discuss "Who is Haile Selassie?"—our theme of the week (07:00). We give a brief overview of the author (11:58). Then we begin a deep dive and ...