This week on Brook Reading, I do a deep dive into the short story (and Netflix adaptation) of Stephen King's novella, Mr. Harrigan's Phone. Thank you so much for all the love and support these past few weeks as I navigate these unfamiliar podcasting waters! Tonight's promo is Designs by Paula J (find her on Instagram and Facebook for all your decor…

After a very long hiatus, Brook Reading is back. Come join me for a cup of coffee while I regale you with tales of my adventures over the past year. Thank you for listening, and as always, Happy Reading!Di Brook Reading

Tonight, I am reintroducing a very special episode. The first novel that I covered on Brook Reading over four years ago was George Orwell’s politically dystopian classic, 1984. In the spirit of my recent episodes featuring banned books and discussing censorship, I am closing out with a two-parter revisiting Orwell’s masterpiece. In classic Brook Re…

Tonight, I am reintroducing a very special episode. The first novel that I covered on Brook Reading over four years ago was George Orwell’s politically dystopian classic, 1984. In the spirit of my recent episodes featuring banned books and discussing censorship, I am closing out with a two-parter revisiting Orwell’s masterpiece. In classic Brook Re…

This week’s episode of Brook Reading reviews a novel that I have been waiting to do since I started the podcast. I am reviewing “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury, which is not only such a well-written novel, one of the best, in my opinion, but also a novel that has introduced society to so many concepts. Bradbury’s classic novel takes the idea of ce…

This week, I am joined by my hysterically funny pal, comedian and podcaster Kendra Crump! Our conversations are always so fun, usually raunchy, and this one is no exception! Ken ALSO finally reveals to me that she is now a PUBLISHED AUTHOR! I can’t wait to have her on the show again and talk about her book. We also touch upon some serious content, …

This week’s episode is a look back on Banned Books Week, created by the American Library Association. As this episode was originally recorded in September of 2020, some of the references may be outdated, but the phenomenon of Banned Books Week still exists, and is incredibly necessary still today. The promo for Livestream for the Cure, however, IS …

This week, I bring you another Encyclopedic episode - Volume 6! This focus is on William Wordsworth, Anne Lamott, the history of “People” magazine, and one of the most important poets and authors of our time, Maya Angelou. Happy Poetry Month, and of course, Happy Reading! Promo: Livestream for the Cure Intro Music: Sean Faust Outro Music: Victoria …

Tonight’s episode, while a week late, is a Housekeeping episode! I feel like we haven’t talked in forever! :) I have so much to update you on, future episodes, my personal musings, and of course a promo for LIVESTREAM FOR THE CURE! It is that time of year again where my friend, Nick, of Nikoli’s kitchen, raises money for the Cancer Research Institu…

Tonight on Brook Reading, I conclude my review of the complete series, Maus, as I cover Part 2 - A Survivor’s Tale - And Here My Troubles Began, by Art Spiegelman. These episodes have been a whirlwind, fraught with emotions, as I haven’t been able to put the book down. I hope you go out there and get yourself a copy somehow, buy it, borrow it, read…

Tonight’s episode is a reading of the open letter to the McMinn County Board of Education by Gregory Paul Silber regarding the banning of “Maus” by Art Spiegelman. The link to read this letter is included here: https://www.comicsbeat.com/an-open-letter-to-the-mcminn-county-board-of-education-regarding-maus/ Stop Censorship. Read Banned Books. Educa…

This week, I have provided with you a classic Brook Reading episode, full of 5 minute rants, an author biography, and a review of a text that is as integral to our society as Shakespeare and as censored as Salinger. Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel, Maus, is the historically accurate tale of the author’s parents’ horrific capture and imprisonment at …

Welcome back, Brookworms! I am SO happy to welcome back my friend, comedian and podcaster Kyndra Crump! We always have such fun conversations, and this one is no different! We discuss salons and upselling, our own personal angels, and Ken’s eternal quest to find Mr. or Ms. Right! Come along for the ride, and join me next week as I review the graphi…

This week’s episode is such a special one for me! I had the distinct honor and pleasure to interview Emme Lund, the author of “The Boy With a Bird in His Chest”. Emme and I had such an amazing conversation, and the novel was such a joyous, emotional roller coaster of a read. I hope you enjoy our conversation, the review, AND go out there and pick y…

TONIGHT’S episode is a crazy ride! For the first time in the history of Brook Reading, I’m LIVE! I have released this episode right after I recorded, mainly due to the timely content of the conversation. I wanted to touch upon the current conversation regarding Spotify, and I also included some housekeeping and schedule information for upcoming sho…

This week’s episode is a blast from the past, an oldie but a goodie, and another love letter to my favorite author, Stephen King. Listen along as I review the novella and film, “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption”, GUSH over all of it, and even have a chance to interview my parents! They both loved that film, and it was such fun watching it…

This week was a landmark for the Brook Reading Podcast - my first interview with a comedian! I had the opportunity to chat with the hysterical, fantastically funny Kyndra Crump! Ken hails from Atlanta, Georgia, and has been performing in clubs in and around her area. She has also been featured on a YouTube show on the Rise Up Worldwide channel call…

Tonight’s episode of Encyclopedia Brooktanica has been brought to you by the Church of England! I bring you the fascinating histories of such literary powerhouses as A.A. Milne, Edgar Allen Poe, Patricia Highsmith, George Orwell, and Marcus Parks! I also provide you with the origin story of “The New Yorker” magazine, as well as shoutout some of my …

Welcome back to the Brook and Happy 2022! My first episode back from holiday break is the fourth in my Encyclopedia Brooktanica series! This week, I cover Lucille Ball’s involvement in “Star Trek”, the life of James Joyce, Ernest J. Gaines, Susan Sontag, and many others, and the origin of “National Geographic” magazine! I have also included a promo…

This episode of Brook Reading is the last episode of the year and my special Holiday episode! I want to dedicate this episode to ALL of you! Thank you for listening and supporting Brook Reading throughout the course of this year, and I wish you and yours a very happy and healthy holiday season! I look forward to seeing you in 2022 and, as always, H…

This week, I continue my new series, Encyclopedia Brooktanica! Join me as I share fun and interesting tidbits about major players in the literary world, and feature a brief history of the nationally acclaimed magazine, Variety. Promo: Forgotten News Podcast Intro music: Sean Faust Outro music: Victoria Timpanaro…

This week, I continue my new series, Encyclopedia Brooktanica! Join me as I share fun and interesting tidbits about major players in the literary world, and feature a brief history of the nationally acclaimed magazine, Inked. Promo: Brunch with the Halliwells Intro music: Sean Faust Outro music: Victoria Timpanaro…

This week, I am SO PROUD to introduce a new series, Encyclopedia Brooktanica! Join me as I share fun and interesting tidbits about major players in the literary world, and feature a brief history of the nationally acclaimed magazine, Ebony. I also relish in the fact that our move is OVER, and read comments from some of my favorite people! Shoutouts…

This week's episode will be my last recorded by the namesake of the show, the infamous Brook! Next week, we are moving, but I will be back with plenty more episodes and content once we get started! You can always find me on social media or at www.brookreadingpodcast.com for more information. As always, Happy Reading!…

This week’s episode of Brook Reading is a long time coming! I present to you an extra special, chock full episode celebrating one of the most revered creations in literary history, and one of the most terrifying monsters in film history, Mary Shelley’s gothic masterpiece, “Frankenstein”!! Not only is this episode long-awaited and special to me, as …

This week on Brook Reading, I had the distinct pleasure to interview author Alicia Dill and discuss her new novel, Beyond Sacrifice. Alicia talks about the bonds amongst veterans, the importance of knowing facts from fiction, and the feeling of meeting a “unicorn in the wild”. Afterwards, I highlight and review her most recent venture, Beyond Sacri…

To celebrate Spooky Season, tonight’s episode of Brook Reading reviews the beautifully written, yet incredibly morose short story, “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury. Not only do I take a deep dive into one of my favorite short stories, but I plug one of my new favorite podcasts, the Party Time Excellent Podcast! Don’t forget, go check ou…

This weekend is the THIRD episode in another series focusing on the Bard’s work, particularly “The Taming of the Shrew”! Aside from my summary and review of the play, you learn all about the British phenomenon, Talking Pages, and my lack of financial knowledge regarding the UK! Enjoy the show, and Happy Reading! Promo: Talking Codswallop, 2 Girls o…

On this weekend’s episode of Brook Reading, we FINALLY cover the plot of the film, “10 Things I Hate About You”! My special guest hosts, Gemma and James of the Talking Codswallop Podcast, and I break down the movie, gush about the hair, the clothes, the drama, and get lost in our collective love and knowledge of “Not Another Teen Movie”! We also fe…

This weekend’s episode is the first of a THREE part series on William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”, but FIRST we will be discussing the modern adaptation, the 1999 feature film, “10 Things I Hate About You”! My pals, Gemma and James, from the Talking Codswallop podcast, join me in our review where we cover Heath Ledger’s hotness, the con…

This week’s episode of Brook Reading celebrates a personal favorite of mine - yup, you guessed it, Brookworms, ANOTHER STEPHEN KING EPISODE! I have reviewed for you one of his newer works, “Elevation”, as well as discussed some of his movie adaptations, all in time for his 74th birthday! Thank you for joining me on this episode, Happy reading, and …

Tonight’s episode of the Brook Reading Podcast highlights the lives of three maverick women who have paved the way for the modern woman, Edith Clarke, Emma Willard, and Marie Severin. I also implore you to help in any way you can to the victims of Hurricane Ida in Louisiana and New Jersey. In the show notes this evening, I have included links for t…

Tonight is a very special episode of the Brook Reading Podcast! I cover a book by an author I’ve never read, along with a guest who I’ve never met AND who’s never been on the show! Dan from the Assorted Goods Podcast joins me to discuss Kurt Vonnegut’s classic novel, “Slaughterhouse Five”. We get into time jumping, Vonnegut’s tragic life, and the o…

This weekend’s episode is a special one, as I have the opportunity to speak to one of my favorite authors AGAIN! Sophie Queen is back to talk about her newest release, “Book Two: Krino’s Blade” in the Riley Series. Our conversation was so much fun, running the gamut from the horror genre, to character development, to the positive aspects of online …

Tonight’s episode of Brook Reading is a REBOOT! I’ve made it to 145 episodes, and this week, I take a look back at Episode 6 of the podcast, where I review Octavia Butler’s “Kindred”. I revamped the episode and made it special, just for you, to introduce this author to new listeners, as well as a thank-you to all of the people who have been listeni…

Tonight’s episode is the culmination of my month-long journey into the history, biology, and experiences of women. My survey responses are modified from the book, “The Women Who Broke All the Rules” By Susan B. Evans, Ed. D., and Joan P. Avis, Ph. D., and I made lots of discoveries hearing about different women’s perspectives. Included in tonight’s…

Tonight, I continue our journey through the stories of amazing women, and this episode is no exception. I provide a brief review and highlights of “Construction Tales”, a blog and short story series, by Leslie M. Jasper. You can find Leslie’s blog at www.constructiontales.com, and her short story collection on Amazon. I also include more informatio…

This episode of Brook Reading is an introduction to a very special series, the milestones, experiences, and wonder of women. On tonight’s episode, I review the fabulous, funny, and factual book, “Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation” by Elissa Stein and Susan Kim. Don’t forget about our special deal provided by Designs by Paula J (10% OFF WHEN …

This episode of Brook Reading is an introduction to a very special series, the milestones, experiences, and wonder of women. On tonight’s episode, I cover many notable, trailblazing women and their forgotten places in history. I also fill you in on a wonderful documentary series, and share with you a special deal provided by Designs by Paula J (10%…

This week, I finish my series on the history of libraries in America. I review the concept of “Carnegie Libraries”, discover the role of women throughout the entire history of libraries, including the development of library sciences, and go on a walk down memory lane. I also provide my own brief and cursory review of “The Day Lincoln Was Shot”. Enj…

On this week’s episode of Brook Reading, I tackle the history of libraries in the United States. I also read tons of lovely comments, regarding “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Stephen King (of course), Alien, and the fact that President Biden is more respectful to the elderly than He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. I also rant about Kevin Costner, and share w…

This week’s episode is the third in the Brook Reading Series, Scenes from William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Our final scene takes place after the Duke’s wedding ceremony. Our young lovers have also been wed, and a celebration is in order. The newly wedded couples take in a play, written and performed by a group of rude mechanicals,…

This week’s episode is the second in a three-part series featuring scenes from William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Tonight, we perform Act Three, Scene Two, where we revisit our fair lovers as they spend the night in the forest. Their misprised antics are exacerbated by the gleeful, yet mischievous, interventions of our resident Puck…

This week begins a three-part series featuring scenes from William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Journey with us to Athens, where magic, mystery, love, and hijinks await you. Our stellar cast brought this classic comedy to life through the wonder of voice acting, and our fantastic crew added the reality, and fantasy, through music and …

This week’s episode of Brook Reading is chock full of fun! I was turned onto a brand new musical that is quite appropo right now. I share with you an article I found regarding an historically exciting trip for President Biden, and I gear up for my next series, a FIRST in Brook Reading History! Stay tuned next week for the first episode of our radio…

On this week’s episode of Brook Reading, I introduce you to an author with such an amazing outlook on life, writing, success, and joy! I had the pleasure to read and review Janet-Lynn’s debut novel, Forever is Today, and she was kind enough to visit me at the Brook! We talked about her inspiration for this fantastic work, her work creating visibili…

This weekend is an amalgam of literature, friendship, philanthropy, and general merriment as I finally recover from tooth surgery and chat with you again! Also, the 5 minute rant returns! I discuss the idea of shame surrounding women’s bodies and genitalia, my happy surprise to see that this wave of embarrassment may be turning the tides in the med…

This week, in honor of Mother’s Day, I am releasing an episode reviewing one of my favorite plays of all time - ever. Robert Harling’s play, Steel Magnolias, was turned into a feature film in 1989, which has had such a huge influence on me over the past 30+ years. I apologize in advance for my terrible Louisiana accent, but I had SO much fun record…

Episode 131 introduces us to a debut novel, “Compliance”, by the amazingly talented author and podcaster, Sam Hurley. Check out my interview with Sam and my review of “Compliance”. I wax about the idea that Sam’s novel may make me smarter, why I have a crush on Ryan (and maybe all New Zealanders), and why we should absolutely support indie authors!…

On this week’s installment of Brook Reading’s Month-Long Shakespeare Extravaganza, I am joined by Jay of Politics with Dummies, and one of my brothers in the No Phony Podcast Network, to discuss “Julius Caesar”. We touch upon the rebellious nature of iambic pentameter, the importance of good teachers AND Cliff notes, and our mutual feeling that Cha…