Coffee with Hardcore Literature (Q&A Episode XIV) (Patreon)

Thank you all for your wonderful questions. They have, once again, resulted in a great bookish conversation for this episode of our Q&A Show.

Topics of discussion include: how to form strong reading habits, embracing a slow reading pace, fiction vs non-fiction (and fighting the good fight), and when to introduce students to classic writers.

We're also talking about the development of the Byronic hero, dark romanticism, Shakespeare's exposure to Ancient Greek, which writers would make the best brunch companions, exploration of spirituality in literature, recommended French poets, and much more.

As this was a long show, we'll be answering the great questions we didn't get to fully in the next Q&A so as to do them justice.

Feel free to jump to any topic/question you’re most interested in by using the timestamps below.

Video Timestamps:

• 0:00 thank you for your great questions
• 0:52 reading fiction & fighting the good fight
• 18:28 what should state school curriculums look like?
• 30:00 how to not fall behind in reading?
• 35:00 how to form a strong reading habit?
• 39:45 where to start in the book club?
• 42:28 the origins of the Byronic hero?
• 48:10 dark romanticism & romanticism?
• 54:00 Shakespeare’s exposure to Ancient Greek drama?
• 59:48 books that have a decided take on religion?
• 1:04:32 recommended edition of Clarissa?
• 1:05:00 favourite Bradbury stories?
• 1:06:42 favourite Chekhov stories?
• 1:07:13 if you could read only one book?
• 1:09:00 besides Shakespeare, what writer would you like to meet?
• 1:11:23 recommended French poets?
• 1:14:28 questions rolling forward for next show

Questions for you:

If you have a moment, I would really love to hear your answers for any of the questions put to me:

1) Which writers would you like to have brunch with?

2) What was your school curriculum like? Would you have changed anything about it?

3) Many readers here are learning a language in order to read their favourite literature in the original. Do you have any experience with this? If so, what language? And what advice would you give?

Please do let us know any questions you might have for the next Q&A Show.

Happy reading, everybody!