Close Reads

Close Reads

Close Reads is a book-club podcast for the incurable reader. Hosted by David Kern and featuring Tim McIntosh and Heidi White, alongside a couple of other occasional guests, we read Great Books and talk about them. This is a show for amateurs in the best sense. We’re book lovers, book enthusiasts. This is not an experts show and it’s barely literary analysis in the way that literary analysis is commonly understood. Instead it’s a show about experiences with literary urge. Join us! Close Reads is presented by Goldberry Studios. A NOTE ABOUT OLDER EPISODES: Since most podcast apps don't go further back than 100 episodes, you'll need to click here to listen to anything further back than that. And our first 32 episodes can be found here, on the original CiRCE Institute feed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

As I Lay Dying: Episode 4

February 25, 2022 • 74 mins
And so we come to the end. Join David, Heidi, and Tim as they dig (no pun intended) into the fiery (pun intended) ending to this classic book. Where do the book's sympathies lie in the end? Why did Darl go mad? Who is trustworthy? These and many other questions get discussed. Happy listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

Bonus Episode: Death on the Nile Movie Discussion

February 23, 2022 • 36 mins
Join David and Heidi as they dig in to Kenneth Branagh's movie adaptation of Death on the Nile. Is the movie in on the joke? Why is there no sand? What's up with Gal Gadot? Why do mustaches need back stories? These and many other questions get contemplated.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

As I Lay Dying: Episode 3

February 18, 2022 • 68 mins
In which David, Heidi, and Tim discuss river crossings, which characters the books seems to have the most sympathy for, and much more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

As I Lay Dying: Episode 2

February 11, 2022 • 75 mins
Join David, Heidi, and Tim as they dig ever deeper into Faulkner's novel. Topics of conversation include mothers who are fish, mothers who are horses, buzzards, and Heidi's great delight in this book.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

As I Lay Dying: Episode 1

February 4, 2022 • 64 mins

Join David, Heidi, and Tim as they dig into the first quarter of William Faulkner's infamous (and mildly inscrutable) novel, As I Lay Dying. Topics of conversation include tops for reading Faulkner, the various points-of-view that tell the story, what happens at the outset, and much more.


This episode is brought to you be BiblioFiles. Learn more at centerforlit.com.

Hosted on Acast....

Mark as Played

Death on the Nile: Q&A Episode

January 28, 2022 • 72 mins
It's time to answer your questions about Death on the Nile, but first Tim has to answer a question from us. Then we discuss topics like movie casting, Christie's impact, Poirot's sense of justice, and much more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

Death on the Nile: The Final Chapters

January 21, 2022 • 51 mins
In which we discuss Poirot's decision, Christie's puzzle-making, and Tim is insufferable (and gets muted for it). And much more, of course.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

Death on the Nile: Chapters 10-20

January 17, 2022 • 49 mins
In which Tim predicts the ending of another mystery novel.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

Death on the Nile: Chapters 1-9

January 9, 2022 • 58 mins
It's time for a new book! It's time for the Queen of Crime. It's time for Hercule Poirot. It's time for some international intrigue. It's time for Death on the Nile! This week we talk about what makes Christie so good (and enduring), her approach to introducing characters in this book, and much more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

2021 in Books

December 31, 2021 • 68 mins
It's time for an annual tradition! On this week's episode we're talking about our favorite reads of 2021. We each used different criteria in creating the lists you will hear here, but its a great peek into our reading lives this year.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

A Confederacy of Dunces: Q&A Episode

December 26, 2021 • 80 mins
It's time to answer your questions about A Confederacy of Dunces! Join the David, Heidi, and Tim as they discuss characters like Jones and Levy, books similar to Dunces, and much more -- plus, naturally, some Christmas chatter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

A Confederacy of Dunces: To the End!

December 17, 2021 • 63 mins
Once more we've come to the end of another book's road. So join David, Tim, and Heidi as they unpack the wild and wacky and strange ending of A Confederacy of Dunces.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

A Confederacy of Dunces: Chapters 10-11

December 12, 2021 • 68 mins
What is the purpose of all of Ignatius' grossness? Does it have anything to do with the four humors in medieval thought? What does Ignatius actually? Close Reads considers these questions on this week's show.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

A Confederacy of Dunces: Chapters 7-9

December 7, 2021 • 54 mins
Here we are, deep inside of John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces, and this week conversation touches (once again) on Ignatius' intelligence, but then moves on to the various secondary characters that people this strange book, as well as talk about Boethius.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

A Confederacy of Dunces: Chapters 4-6

November 28, 2021 • 49 mins
Join David, Heidi, and Tim as they continue to discuss Ignatius J. Reilly and his "worldview," including some discussion about why he has to be quite so gross. Also: what's the deal with all the geometry talk?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

A Confederacy of Dunces: Chapters 1-3

November 19, 2021 • 68 mins
A Confederacy of Dunces is one of the more strange books we have ever done on this show, but over the next several weeks David, Heidi, and Tim are going to do their best to explain what makes it a worthwhile work of literature. This week they discuss the book's sad origin story, its medieval influences, its comedic core, and its outrageous protagonist.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

Mark as Played

A Gathering of Old Men: Q&A Episode

November 15, 2021 • 72 mins
As usual, you asked great questions and we did our best to answer! Join David, Heidi, and Tim as they conclude their discussion of A GATHERING OF OLD MEN.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

A Gathering of Old Men: To the End

November 6, 2021 • 63 mins
Was justice met in the end? Why does the story end with Lou Dimes' perspective? Is the ending satisfying? Is it happy? These and other questions were address on this week's episode. Join David, Heidi, and Tim as they dive into the final pages of A Gathering of Old Men.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

A Gathering of Old Men: 110-167

October 29, 2021 • 53 mins
This week David, Tim, and Heidi discuss which characters are most villainous in Ernest Gaines' novel, and dig in to the narrative and dramatic effect of leaving the gathering of old men right in the middle of the story.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

A Gathering of Old Men: 58-110

October 25, 2021 • 53 mins
This week we're discussing the introduction of the white characters to the story, whether the sheriff is a good or bad guy, and much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Stuff You Should Know

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

    Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics

    Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics

    Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    Dateline NBC

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Mobile

Wearables

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.