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PODCAST

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast

In each episode Trevor Berrett and Paul Wilson have a pleasant conversation about books and reading. Visit our blog at http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews. Follow us on Twitter @mookse and @bibliopaul. Email mookseandgripes@gmail.com. mookse.substack.com

arts books

All Episodes

104:29

Episode 121: Our Favorite Books We Read in 2025, Part I

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/12/11

In this first installment of our annual year-end wrap-up, we dive into the opening half of our top ten reads of 2025, counting down numbers ten through six and revisiting the books that surprised us, challenged us, and stayed with us throughout the year. Along the way, we’re joined by several friends who drop in to share the titles that meant the most to them in 2025, adding their voices to the conversation and widening the circle of celebration.It’s a relaxed, book-loving episode filled with

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91:51

Episode 120: Gratitude and Holiday Reading

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/11/27

In this Thanksgiving episode, we start by reflecting on the bookish communities that make the solitary act of reading feel richer and more connected. Then we turn to the season ahead, chatting through the books we hope to finish before the calendar turns and the cozy, festive reads we’re saving for the holidays. It’s a gentle, grateful episode to accompany your weekend as we start to look at the end of another year, and it’s one more chance to settle in, share a few books, and enjoy the company of

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104:07

Episode 119: The Art (and Agony) of Book Culling

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/11/13

This week, Trevor and Paul are joined by Dorian Stuber of One Bright Book to talk about the difficult, liberating art of culling books. What does it mean to let go of the stories we’ve carried with us? Is it an act of loss, renewal, or self-knowledge? Together, they explore the philosophy, guilt, and quiet joy that come from pruning one’s shelves.2026 Novella Book ClubWe are excited to announce the four novellas we will be reading for The Mookse and Gripes Novella Book Club in 2026!* January: Daisy

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37:12

118: Whole Body Reading: Reading, Walking and Well-Being

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/10/30

In this special on-the-go episode, Trevor and Paul take the podcast out for a walk. As they wander, Trevor reflects on how he’s lost 40 pounds over the past few months and discovered ways to bring books into every part of his daily rhythm. From audiobooks on long walks to reading as recovery, the conversation explores what it means to make reading not just a mental habit, but a full-body experience. This shorter episode captures the joy of movement, conversation, and the steady companionship of

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85:08

Episode 117: Losing the Plot: On Reading Slumps and...

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/10/16

We’ve all been there: the books are piled high, but nothing calls out. In this episode, Trevor and Paul talk about reading slumps—what they look like, what brings them on, and how to find the spark again. From work stress to life interruptions to simple reader fatigue, we explore how to rediscover the joy of the page and the role of community in keeping reading alive.We’ve got some fantastic author-focused episodes lined up for the foreseeable future, and we want to give you plenty of time to dive

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98:08

Episode 116: A World Brimming Over: Abundant...

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/10/02

Some books are long, some are short, but certain works feel abundant—overflowing with rhythm, atmosphere, and depth that can’t be exhausted in a single reading. In this episode we are joined by Lori Feathers, and we set as our foundation Henry James’s The Portrait of a Lady to explore what makes a work abundant. We move through other examples, asking what defines abundances, how it differs from size or ambition, and why these books matter.We’ve got some fantastic author-focused episodes lined up for

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122:42

Episode 115: Kazuo Ishiguro

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/09/18

In this episode, Trevor and Paul turn their attention to Nobel Prize–winner Kazuo Ishiguro, whose eight novels over the past forty years have earned both admiration and debate. Together, we trace Ishiguro’s remarkable range: the restrained heartbreak of Remains of the Day, the dream-logic labyrinth of The Unconsoled, the quiet devastation of Never Let Me Go, the ambitious allegory of The Buried Giant, and the AI exploration of Klara and the Sun. Along the way, we weigh Ishiguro’s signature themes of

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75:58

Episode 114: Through a Glass, Darkly: Entering...

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/09/04

This week we are joined by translator Max Lawton to celebrate the release of Michael Lenz’s Schattenfroh from Deep Vellum. But rather than focus only on this one book, we open the conversation to a wider theme: the joy of reading books that resist. These are works that don’t give themselves up on a first pass, that refuse to be solved, that instead teach us how to read them as we go. With Schattenfroh as our starting point, we wander through the labyrinths of these kinds of books, asking why

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93:37

Episode 113: Starter Libraries: A Shelf Full of Promises

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/08/21

What does it take to build the perfect first shelf? This week we tackle the joyful—and surprisingly stressful—task of creating a starter library. We’re joined by John Williams, book editor at The Washington Post, to discuss how to choose ten books that someone can use as a starter library, offering comfort, surprise, and a little stretch along the way. We compare approaches, confess our struggles, and share the shelves we’d hand to a friend ready build their personal library.We’d love to hear from

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63:08

Episode 112: In Her Words: Women in Translation 2025

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/08/07

We’re back for another round of Women in Translation Month! Each August, readers around the world celebrate books written by women and translated into English, spotlighting voices the too often go unheard. In this episode, we each pick five WIT titles we’re planning to read this month. We promise our goal is not to derail your carefully curated TBR list, but this is an event where we’ll happily take responsibility for your reading detours!What WIT books are you reading to celebrate?We’ve got some

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41:24

Episode 111: Two Friends Walk into a Bookstore: A Day...

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/07/24

This week’s episode comes with poor sound quality and excellent vibes. For the first time ever, Paul and Trevor met in person! Join us as we take the show on the road—through bookstores, libraries, and one unforgettable day of literary wandering. From the cozy aisles of The King’s English to the rarified shelves of Moon’s Rare Books, with stops at Poppy’s Books and the Salem City Library (Trevor’s wife makes as cameo!), this episode is a roving celebration of bookish friendship. We apologize in

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104:39

Episode 110: The End: Last Lines That Stick the Landing

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/07/10

How do you wrap up a great book? in this episode, Paul and Trevor dive into the final sentences that left them stunned, satisfied, or haunted. From quiet farewells to explosive conclusions, we’re celebrating the art of the last line—and how a final passage can reshape everything that came before.What’s a last line that you’ll never forget?We’ve got some fantastic author-focused episodes lined up for the foreseeable future, and we want to give you plenty of time to dive in if you’d like to read along

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105:20

Episode 109: The Lighter Side of the Stacks: Funny Books

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/06/26

In this episode, Paul and Trevor are joined by Kate from The Book Club Review Podcast for a lively discussion about funny books. From dry wit to outright absurdity, we explore the kinds of humor that make us laugh out loud—or quietly smirk into our sleeves—and why comic novels deserve a place on every bookshelf. We also announce the winner of our June giveaway and introduce a brand-new challenge for July. Tune in for some laughs and let us know which books have made you laugh the most.We’ve got some

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87:21

Episode 108: From Our Shelves with Pride: LGBTQIA+...

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/06/12

Happy Pride Month! In this episode Trevor and Paul share some of our favorite works of LGBTQIA+ literature (and films)—works that have moved us, challenged us, and expanded our sense of the world. We reflect on how queer literature has shaped our understanding over the years and discuss the importance of lifting up these voices—especially in a moment when so many are under threat. Join us in a heartfelt conversation about storytelling, solidarity, and the power of books to open us up to the lives of

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84:28

107: Goals or Guilt? A Check-in on Our Reading Ambitions

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/05/29

In this episode, Paul and Trevor check in on our 2025 reading goals—where we’ve succeeded, where we’ve faltered, and most importantly how our goals are impacting our reading experience. Are we setting ourselves up for success, or are we creating unnecessary pressure? We dive into the positives and potentials pitfalls of reading ambitions, exploring what’s working for us. Tune in for a reflective conversation on how to make reading goals meaningful.Plus, we announce the winner of our May giveaway and

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76:22

106: Bookshelf Roulette: Surprises from the Shelf

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/05/15

In this episode we’re shaking things up with Bookshelf Roulette! No pre-planned selections—just pure randomness. Using a random number generator, we each pick a few books from our shelves and dive into spontaneous discussions. Did we read them? Do we love them? Do we remember them? From forgotten gems to books we’ve been meaning to get to, we explore what’s lurking in the corners of our collections. Tune in for some unexpected literary discoveries, personal stories, and maybe even a few surprises as

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120:51

Episode 105: Wrists Be Damned: or, How We Learned to...

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/05/01

In this episode, Trevor and Paul are joined by Chris Via of Leaf by Leaf to celebrate the experience of reading big books. From the books that once intimidated us to the ones we now can't imagine our overburdened shelves without, we dive into what makes a book feel "big." Along the way, we share personal stories, favorite strategies for tackling doorstoppers, the books that stretched us as readers, and reflect on why some big books stay with us for life. Whether you're a lifelong lover of big books

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78:46

Episode 104: Hanne Ørstavik

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/04/17

What happens when a writer turns silence, fear, grief—and love?—into novels that are barely a couple hundred pages but echo for days? Whether it’s love withheld, misplaced, or mourned, Ørstavik’s novels speak to each other through unspoken longing and the disorienting nature of grief—with a quiet, cumulative power that’s hard to shake. In this episode, we explore the devastating brilliance of Hanne Ørstavik, the Norwegian author whose emotionally precise novels—Love, The Pastor, Ti Amo, and Stay

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82:25

Episode 103: Charco Press

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/04/03

It’s time for another publisher-centric episode, and it’s another stunner—we’re heading to Latin America (via Scotland!) to talk about the brilliant Charco Press! We dive into what makes Charco Press such a standout: their dedication to bringing contemporary Latin American literature to English-language readers, their thoughtful support of authors and translators, and, yes, their absolutely gorgeous books.We each share three Charco titles we love and three more we can’t wait to get our hands on

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113:26

Episode 102: Diving into the Past with Historical...

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast ·

2025/03/20

In this episode of The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast, we’re joined by Rohan Maitzen to explore the multifaceted world of historical fiction. Rohan guides us through the genre, unpacking its many layers and surprising complexities. From timeless classics to unexpected gems, we share some of our favorite examples from the genre and discuss how historical fiction challenges our perceptions of the past and sparks conversations about the present, all while whisking us away to another time. Whether you're

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121 results

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