The Literate Loser

In this transitional episode, we wrap up our discussion of Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson and get right into our next selection, Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio. I wax somewhat philosophical on turning 39 years old, and talk a little bit about an addition to my daily routine. Hint: It has to do with looking good naked.

00:00 — 01:07 Hello!
01:07 — 12:34 Discussion and closing thoughts on Pudd’nhead Wilson
12:34 — 23:46 Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio: Choosing it, and then reading the first chapter
23:46 — 30:02 On the edge of 40
30:02 — 32:22 Wrap

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It’s the end of 2007, and at last, it is also the end of our reading of Pudd’nhead Wilson. The reading selection’s a little longer than usual, so the bonus material is limited here to some quick thoughts on 2007.

00:00 — 01:05 Hello.
01:05 — 35:51 Summary of chapter 20, Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson chapter 21 and conclusion, discussion questions.
35:51 — 38:47 A fond “eff you” to 2007.

Don’t forget to friend me at GoodReads.com!

Email: mail — at —- literateloser — dot — net.
Vmail: 206-350-2969
Or leave a comment below!

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I had high hopes for this installment of the Literate Loser, but didn’t discover until I was pretty much done that I’d had problems with the USB microphone, and so I had to use the onboard microphone, which isn’t nearly as good. There’s quite a bit of noise here, but hopefully you can fight through that distraction and find something worthwhile here! I worked really hard on the copy, too! Arrrrrr.

We hit the second-to-last chapter of Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson, and Wilson finally figures out what we’ve known since early on. Then I give a little update on my Masters thesis. Finally, I submit my Desert Island Ten, inspired by the lists offered at another podcast.

00:00 — 01:03 Hi!
01:03 — 20:18 Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson, chapter 20!
20:18 — 24:08 Thesis Pieces!
24:08 — 33:31 My Desert Island Ten, in response to the Just One More Book! podcast!
33:31 — 35:13 Wrap-up!

Check out Sonja Cole at Bookwink.com and tell me you didn’t fall in love with her!
One of my recent favorite podcasts is Just One More Book!
Don’t forget to friend me at GoodReads.com!

Email: mail — at —- literateloser — dot — net.
Vmail: 206-350-2969
Or leave a comment below!

Click this button to listen in your browser,

or click here to download (48.4 mb).

Somebody kills someone with someone else’s knife in chapter 19 of Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson, and I finally get around to reading the long-promised treatise by Twain on how Scotland’s Sir Walter Scott turned every U.S. Southern gentleman into a colonel or general and thus was hugely responsible for the Civil War. Then I offer four quick book recommendations (’though I have only read three of them!) and top everything off with a small tribute to Quiet Riot lead singer Kevin DuBrow.

00:00 — 01:29 Hi.
01:29 — 30:03 Pudd’nhead Wilson, Chapter 19 and Twain on Scott.
30:03 — 37:00 Four book recommendations.
37:00 — 41:47 Remembering Kevin DuBrow.
41:47 — 43:29 Ta-ta.

email: mail — at — literateloser — dot — net
vmail: 206-350-2969 < -- NEW NUMBER! VOICE MAIL OR FAX!

Linkage:
Peter Jenkins at Amazon.com.
On the Road with Charles Kuralt at Amazon.com.
Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck at Amazon.com.
My profile at GoodReads.com (sign up and add me as a friend!)

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Wow. These interludes are getting to be a bad habit!

But the Loser returns with a rather long selection from Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson, followed by a very short explanation of the Master’s thesis and a quick list!

00:00 — 01:51 Hello
01:51 — 25:49 Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson, chapter 18
25:49 — 44:00 Three Stinkers and Three Stunners
44:00 — 46:14 Trivia contest and so long

email: mail — at — literateloser — dot — net
vmail: 206-350-2969 < -- NEW NUMBER! VOICE MAIL OR FAX!

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A short chapter this week means lots of babbling. I follow the pivotal chapter with a long story about a friend’s experience with the online dating service. The Harry Potter trivia contest is still live, too!

00:00 — 02:43 Hello
02:43 — 14:49 Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson, chapter 17
14:49 — 32:38 The story of my friend Mario and his experience with the matchmaking service
32:38 — 36:18 Trivia contest and so long

email: mail — at — literateloser — dot — net
vmail: 206-350-8393

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The best chapter of Mark Twain’s Puddn’head Wilson so far! I actually gasped aloud when I read this chapter to myself late last week! Don’t skip over it!

In more somber news, the great Lloyd Alexander died on May 17 and I didn’t find out until last night, so I present an extremely humble, unsuitable tribute to one of my favorite writers of all time.

I think I’ll apologize in advance for an especially self-indulgent show, which sounds weird coming from a guy who did the entire online dating service questionnaire live, but whatever. Something about this one embarrasses me a little.

00:00 — 03:24 Greetings and welcome to the summer!
03:24 — 18:45 Puddn’head Wilson by Mark Twain, Chapter 16.
18:45 — 42:12 A tribute to Lloyd Alexander, author of The Chronicles of Prydain
42:12 — 43:45 Goodbye

Lloyd Alexander’s obituary at the School Library Journal.
Lloyd Alexander at Powells.com.
Lloyd Alexanderat Amazon.com.

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We enter the final third of Mark Twain’s Puddn’head Wilson, and Tom becomes truly despicable (finally), making it a bit easier to pick sides. I finally complete the online dating-service questionnaire, and announce the second Harry Potter Trivia Contest.

I recorded this at a lower audio quality, but the file size is about the same (it’s probably the fault of the music, which is at the same audio quality), and recent viewings of Huell Howser’s California’s Gold have convinced me that one should present one’s material at the best reasonable quality. Therefore, I’m returning to my recent recording practices beginning next week.

00:00 — 02:21 Greetings
02:21 — 23:35 Puddn’head Wilson, by Mark Twain, chapter 15
23:35 — 24:40 “I’m on vacaaaaaatiooooooon!”
24:40 — 40:41 online dating service questionnaire
40:41 — 43:03 Harry Potter Trivia Contest
43:03 — 44:00 See ya

email: mail (a.t.) literateloser (d.o.t.) net
vmail: 206-350-8393

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I mistitled the .mp3 file. That nine key is so darned close to that zero key!

I’m curious. How does iTunes (or whatever you’re managing your subscriptions through) handle it when there’s a bad link like that? It won’t see the enclosure, so I guess it doesn’t know the cast has been updated.

Forgive the less-than-crystal-clear sound on this one: I recorded it while sitting at a picnic table beneath God’s great sky. In this week’s installment of Puddn’head Wilson, Tom and Roxy come up with a plan to ensure Tom’s reformation while the bullets fly left and right. I finally return to the online dating service questionnaire for a bit and that’s about it!

Because of a recent problem with my laptop (it got stolen!), I am temporarily changing my theme music, too.

00:00 — 03:06 Hello!
03:06 — 24:30 Mark Twain’s Puddn’head Wilson, Chapter 14
24:30 — 40:25 Online Dating Service questionnaire
40:25 — 42:40 Let’s wrap it up

contact me:
email mail [ a-t ] literateloser.net
vmail 206-350-8393

Download here (42:40, 58.6 mb)