Discussion Notes: No One Here is Going to Save You This week’s story: No One Here is Going to Save You by Julian Zabalbeascoa  Next week’s story: Huevos Estrellados by Vanessa Bernice De La Cruz  Rated: Clean Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “No One Here is Going to Save You” by Julian Zabalbeascoa,  a story of a soldier during the Spanish civil war who is tasked with executing communists and a priest. Gerald and Andy disappointed with the story, but Anais enjoyed it. At the heart of the...

Discussion Notes: The Theresa Job This week’s story: The Theresa Job by Colson Whitehead  Next week’s story: No One Here Is Going To Save You by Julian Zabalbeascoa  Rated: Clean Themes, Explicit Language (Host drops an ‘f’ bomb 😔 ) Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Theresa Job” by Colson Whitehead, a story of a hotel heist in 1950s New York City, centered on a reluctant fence. Gerald and Andy had a love-hate relationship with the story due to its abrupt ending. Anais does her best to...

Discussion Notes: The City Born GreatThis week’s story: The City Born Great by N. K. Jemisin Next week’s story: The Theresa Job by Colson Whitehead Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The City Born Great” by N. K. Jemisin, an urban fantasy about a young New Yorker called upon to midwife the birth of a great city and fend off the eldritch hospitals that would feed on the newborn. All three hosts enjoyed the story — even Andy who might have preferred if the city were Chicago. Have...

Discussion Notes: The Specialist’s HatThis week’s story: The Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link Next week’s story: The City Born Great by N. K. Jemisin Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Specialist’s Hat” by Kelly Link, a story about twin girls who move into the gothic home of a former poet who dabbled in the dark arts and killed his wife. Despite a lot of debate on this podcast, our hosts ended up giving this spooky, clever story similar ratings.Have thoughts on this story?Did we...

Discussion Notes: FosterThis week’s story: Foster by Bryan Washington Next week’s story: The Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link Rated: EXPLICITGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Foster” by Bryan Washington, a story of a man estranged from his brother, struggling with his boyfriend, and refusing to name a cat. The story is explicit and so is this episode. The explicit nature of the story was a bit of a turn off for Gerald, but all three hosts enjoyed digging deep into this iceberg of a story. Scratch...

Discussion Notes: The InterlopersThis week’s story: The Interlopers by H. H. Munro Next week’s story: Foster by Bryan Washington Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Interlopers” by H. H. Munro (SAKI), a story of a long-running family dispute over wild lands that comes to a head when two men from either side are trapped beneath the same felled tree. In a surprising twist, the story reads like a dark comedy. All three hosts thoroughly enjoyed the story as much as they enjoyed saying...

Discussion Notes: Hot IceThis week’s story: Hot Ice by Stuart Dybek Next week’s story: The Interlopers by H.H. Munro (SAKI) Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Hot Ice” by Stuart Dybek, a Chicago native who brings the mid-century societal changes to life with the myth of a local saint. Andy identified with the story which struck true to his upbringing in Chicago.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our...

Discussion Notes: The Case For and Against Love Potions This week’s story: The Case for and Against Love Potions by Imbolo Mbue  Next week’s story: Hot Ice by Stuart Dybek  Rated: Clean Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Case for and Against Love Potions” by Imbolo Mbue , a story told by an over confident narrator to you, a person seeking advice on whether or not to use love potions. It is a very funny and subtle satire. The subtlety  unsettled Gerald and Anais who worried it could go...

Discussion Notes: Objects in SpaceThis week’s story: Objects in Space by Emily Davis Next week’s story: The Case for and Against Love Potions by Imbolo Mbue Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Objects in Space” by Emily Davis, a story of a young New York woman who heads west in search of clarity. Despite a consensus on the story’s merits, the story left our hosts wanting more.Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter...

Discussion Notes: The Husband Stitch This week’s story: The Husband Stitch by Carmen Maria Machado  Next week’s story: Objects in Space by Emily Davis  Rated: Explicit Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Husband Stitch” by Carmen Maria Machado, a haunting story of a woman’s life, interspersed with fairytales about womanhood. All three hosts marveled at the brilliance of the story’s composition. As Anais repeated several times in this episode, this story is “next level.”  Have thoughts...

Discussion Notes: A Challenge You Have OvercomeThis week’s story: A Challenge You Have Overcome by Allegra Goodman Next week’s story: The Husband Stitch by Carmen Maria Machado Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “A Challenge You Have Overcome” by Allegra Goodman, a story about an older couple who feel stuck in their careers and whose youngest son is applying to colleges. Our hosts discuss the story’s strong start and how it deviated from their expectations, for better or worse. Have...

Discussion Notes: HollowThis week’s story: Hollow by Breece D’J Pancake Next week’s story: A Challenge Your Have Overcome by Allegra Goodman Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Hollow” by Breece D’J Pancake, the story of Buddy, a coal miner in West Virginia, his community, and his humble dreams. This story split our hosts. Gerald and Anais gush about the genius of this subtle story. Meanwhile Andy, while agreeing with their analysis, strongly dislikes the story. It gets...

Discussion Notes: Fatima, the BiloquistThis week’s story: Fatima, the Biloquist by Nafissa Thompson-Spires Next week’s story: Hollow by Breece D’J Pancake Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Fatima, the Biloquist” by Nafissa Thompson-Spires, a story of a young, nerdy black girl in a predominantly white neighborhood who is struggling to reconcile her multitudes. She meets a friend who is self-possessed and has opinions on identity. We loved this story and it provoked a great...

Discussion Notes: Hansa and Gretyl and Piece of ShitThis week’s story: Hansa and Gretyl and Piece of Shit by Rebecca Curtis Next week’s story: Fatima, the Biloquist: A Transformation Story by Nafissa Thompson-Spires Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Hansa and Gretyl and Piece of Shit” by Rebecca Curtis, a modern twist on a classic fairytale, with a hunter, a talking cat, and evil parents and sisters. All three hosts appreciated the story’s clever craft and strong start, but ended...

Discussion Notes: The Paper TigerThis week’s story: The Paper Tiger by Lindsay Kennedy Next week’s story: Hansa and Gretyl and Piece of Shit by Rebecca Curtis Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Paper Tiger” by Lindsay Kennedy, a whimsical story of biblical proportions of a girl with a strong moral compass and her tiger friend. The story is a wonderful read and charmed all three hosts. We urge you to read it!Have thoughts on this story?Did we miss a crucial piece of this story?...

Discussion Notes: The Hunter’s WifeThis week’s story: The Hunter’s Wife by Anthony Doerr Next week’s story: The Paper Tiger by Lindsay Kennedy Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Hunter’s Wife” by Anthony Doerr, a story of a Montana hunter and his estranged, magically gifted wife. All three hosts heaped a ton of praise on this flawless story. Six out six ratings across the board. The discussion may have suffered due to all the fawning, but for aspiring writers, the fawning may...

Discussion Notes: Every Tiny Tooth and ClawThis week’s story: Every Tiny Tooth and Claw (or: Letters from the First Month of the New Directorate) by Marissa Lingen Next week’s story: The Hunter’s Wife by Anthony Doerr Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Every Tiny Tooth and Claw (or: Letters from the First Month of the New Directorate)” by Marissa Lingen, a epistolary story of academic wizards trying to survive the rise of a fascist regime. The story prompted a deep discussion of the...

Discussion Notes: The Daughters of the MoonThis week’s story: The Daughters of the Moon – Italo Calvino – Literary Roadhouse Ep 202 Next week’s story: Every Tiny Tooth and Claw (or: Letters from the First Month of the New Directorate) by Marissa Lingen Rated: CleanGerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Daughters of the Moon” by Italo Calvino, a story of a consumerist society in a city that lived long ago in a different world. No longer charmed by the aging moon, they throw it in a junkyard, and...

Discussion Notes: The Land Where Lemon Trees Bloom This week’s story: The Land Where Lemon Trees Bloom by Evan S. Connell  Next week’s story: The Daughters of the Moon by Italo Calvino  Rated: Clean Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “The Land Where Lemon Trees Bloom” by Evan S. Connell, a story of a man who tells delightful, tall tales. The story charmed our hosts, but was the premise enough to win them over?  Have thoughts on this story? Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell...

LRH discusses "Callme and Mink" by Brenda Cooper, a story about attachments, centered on a robot whose raises and gives away dogs.

LRH discusses "The Great Indian Tee and Snakes" by Kritika Pandey. The story divided our hosts and prompted discussion of Indian politics.

Literary Roadhouse discusses "Rough Deeds" by Annie Proulx, a vivid story about mafioso lumbermen in 1712's New France.

Literary Roadhouse discusses "Flashlight" by Susan Choi, a story of a girl haunted by the death of her father, and resentful of her mother's illness.

LRH analyzes "Sweet Scoundrel" by Diana Xin, a slyly written story of a mistress, a would-be older sister, and a marriage that straddles cultures.