Last week, we saw young Dodo captured and tied to a bed in a sanitorium. He faces imminent danger constantly and can confide in only one friend, a young boy with cerebral palsy who shares the bed next to him. Will his family be able to rescue Dodo, or will he spend his final days in the hands of men with evil aims? Meanwhile, as Chona wastes away in a hospital bed due to a series of seizures, will the truth about her attack come to light? Let's find the answers in this week's review of the conclusion to The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride.

Let's get LIT!

 

- View the video podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@litsocietypod

Find Alexis and Kari online: 

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod

Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod

Our website — www.LitSocietyPod.com. 

Subscribe to emails and get free stuff: http://eepurl.com/gDtWCr 

The last community of Black Americans and Jewish immigrants in a tiny Pennsylvania town must risk their lives and livelihoods to save a deaf child from institutionalization and torture. Will they succeed against a system that squishes them all under society's boot? Or will an innocent boy be forced into a nightmarish existence?

 

The book The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Let's get LIT!

 

- View the video podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@litsocietypod

Find Alexis and Kari online: 

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod

Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod

Our website — www.LitSocietyPod.com. 

Subscribe to emails and get free stuff: http://eepurl.com/gDtWCr 

This episode was first published on April 14, 2022, and it's still one of our favorites.  We return next week with a new episode covering No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy. Enjoy!

America's Most Wanted was a television show launched by a man who knew what it meant to lose a child forever, in the blink of an eye, to the hands of a monster. He took his pain and helped others find their missing children before it was too late. Today, we discuss how that man, Jon Walsh, lost his son and what we all can do to be a little safer in these streets. Then, on to our book...

On the tenth anniversary of her youngest daughter's disappearance, one woman must choose to let go of her pain and reopen herself to life and love. After meeting a charming writer, who reminds her of her ex-husband, she begins a path that takes her somewhere she never imagined — to the truth about her daughter's disappearance a decade earlier.

The woman's name? Laurel Mack.

The book? Then She Was Gone: A Novel by Lisa Jewell

LET'S GET LIT!

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

This week we're taking it back to our very first episode, featuring a book that's drowning in controversy.

 

As a kid, did you ever fantasize about running away from home? Ever dream about escaping to a place where no one could tell you what to do? Imagine for a moment that your fantasy came true but in reverse. Your parents ran away from home, leaving you to your own devices before you could even count to 30 — before you literally knew what number came after 29. It’s an age where you reasonably expect no one will ever leave you without food, guidance, and protection, and yet there you are, without the natural affection afforded to even the feral animals around your feet. Sobering, no?

 

Owens writes the world of Kay, our protagonist, with striking vividness. Through economical prose and an unpretentious vocabulary, she brings to life the colors and sounds experienced by a six-year-old girl, abandoned by her own in the marsh of North Carolina in the 1950s. While reading this book, the air around you will smell of buzzing micro-ecosystems and land wet with forgotten waters from the Pacific Ocean. More than anything, you’ll feel the numbing pain of Kay’s loneliness as if it’s your own.

 

Before we dive into Where the Crawdads Sing, we’ll get real about loneliness and depression: What battles have we had with both, and how does one cope?

 

Welcome to the first episode of Lit Society. Let’s get LIT

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

 

In the quiet village of St. Mary Mead, in the peaceful English countryside, the unthinkable happens — a murder. What is more, this is not just any murder. The dead man is found in the local's clergyman's office, blood on the desk and a note in his atrophying hand. Did the clergyman bring an end to the life of a man he envied? Or was it one of the many country folks who openly hated the deceased? One observant spinster aims to get to the bottom of the mystery before the wrong man is hanged.

 

The observant old maid? Miss Marple.

The book: The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

 

LET'S GET LIT!

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

This week we're talking jewelry heists. Which notorious thieves were caught by police, and which got away? Alexis has the answers. Then, it's on to our book.

Orphaned in high school, Ray Carney worked his way through college and now owns his own furniture store in 1960s Harlem. He's a family man living the American dream, but some dreams are no different than nightmares. Fighting both familial and internal influences, Carney must outlast three separate heists to secure the lives of those he loves most. Will he survive? Or will this man lose himself trying to find his dream?

The book is Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead.

Let's get LIT!

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

It is the first week of June, and you know what that means. We're back with another WILD CARD episode. Instead of dissecting a book, we're discussing Kenneth Branagh's Death On the Nile, a film released in cinemas and streaming this year. We saw this film in theaters and at home, and we've got a LOT to say. Watch the flick before listening to see if our thoughts coincide with yours, and let us know if we finally pronounced Hercule Poirot correctly. (Spoiler: We didn't!)

Let's get LIT! 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

Convenience Store Woman is the deadpan tale of one woman's happy life in a simple occupation before conformity-obsessed friends, family members, and strangers pressure her into confusion and despair. Will she find her way back, or will she end up like a sandcastle, washed away by the current of conventionality? As Beyoncé said, "This is for the 30-somethings that didn't turn out exactly how mom and dad wanted you to be."

Before diving into this dry humor, we discuss if anyone can indeed find happiness and fulfillment from their job. 

This is LIT Society. Let's Get LIT! 

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

America's first Black-American established towns are our theme this week, inspired by the author's hometown in the state of Florida. How did these towns form, and what's the story behind them? Alexis has the details. Then, it's on to our book...

This Harlem Renaissance classic is the story of a woman too beautiful to be trusted and too innocent to be cautious. She battles nearly debilitating loneliness, floating through life unseen, despite marrying twice. At a time she least expected, she finds love and that love takes her on a journey of self-discovery to inner, untouchable liberation.

 The book is Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.

 Let's Get LIT!

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

No matter who you are, you're sure to relate to this week's theme: How Our Ancestors Effect Who Are Today. In a real, measurable way, the family members who came before us affect who we are and how we live. We'll chat about how this has proven true in our own lives. Then, on to our book...

 

Following the story of two sisters and the generations they birthed, this week's book covers each woman's journey from the tribe of their childhood to their children's lives and their children's children in America. Each new generation has new struggles, romances, passions, and pain. In the end, the sisters' families are united, brought home to the land and the water that bore them.

 

The book is Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi.

 

Let's Get LIT!

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

This week's is a wild card episode. We're discussing song lyrics and our favorite musical storytellers. We've also got a game — because you all love to put Alexis on the spot (and Kari is more than happy to oblige). 

Joining us this week is acclaimed author Dawnie Walton. A seasoned publication editor turned novelist - Walton has worked for Essence and Entertainment Weekly, to name only a few. Her experience gives her first-hand knowledge of both the music and publishing industries. The Final Revival of Opal and Nev, her debut novel, is a fictional story written as a real-life profile of one of the greatest and most misunderstood rock duos in history. The book details Opal and Nev's rise to fame and the horrific event that led to a man's death, and the band's ostracization by industry insiders and wannabes for years to come.

How has music influenced you as a storyteller?

LET'S GET LIT!

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

This week's episode is OUT OF THIS WORLD! First, we'll start with all the petty details of how NASA originated. It's like when that juice box bar opened in Chicago; Everyone went once for the IG pic and then never again. It's like that. By the way, did you know that only 12 men have walked on the moon? Unrelated fact, but true. Then it's on to our book...

Chris Hadfield is a real-life astronaut. His first novel is set in an alternate reality where Apollo 13 is happening, not as an exploration mission but as a military operation. The crew's task is to take down a foreign space station designed to spy on American citizens. Soviet activity forces American hands to action, but the Soviets are prepared with a canon-laden vessel and an American mole secretly working for them aboard the US spaceship. When the smoke clears, who will be left standing?

LET'S GET LIT!

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

It's National Poetry Month, and we've got a special episode to celebrate this brilliantly unique form of literature. Whether or not you're a fan of poetic prose, we guarantee there's something for you. First, we're taking it back to AP English with a breakdown of poetic rhythm, including Shakespeare's fav iambic pentameter, in this week's theme, How to Read and Enjoy Poetry Correctly. Then, it's on to our book...

Black moments distilled into easily digestible verse, this book reminds us that literature lives outside classrooms or cringy rom-coms.

It's more than "To be or not to be" a "phenomenal woman" or a "brother to the night" or the "blues in your left thigh, trying to be the funk in your right. "Poetry is more than that. Poetry is life. This everyday, mundane, extraordinary life.

Poetry turns this life into a song.

Today's song is DIGGING DEEP DOWN IN THOSE ROOTS Poetry of Black Hair, Culture, Resilience, Personal & Collective Trauma by Katina Horton.

LET'S GET LIT!

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

Not all heroes wear capes or have long epic trilogies written about them. Some live quiet lives, doing what they can to protect the most vulnerable. In a small Irish town, one man must choose if he'll become a hero or remain a silent enabler of a horrific system perpetrated by the church of his community.

 

The book: Small Things Like These

The author: Claire Keegan 

LET'S GET LIT!!!

 

- View the video podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@litsocietypod

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: 

 

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod

 

Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod

 

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod

 

Our website — www.LitSocietyPod.com. 

 

Subscribe to emails and get free stuff: http://eepurl.com/gDtWCr 

America's Most Wanted was a television show launched by a man who knew what it meant to lose a child forever, in the blink of an eye, to the hands of a monster. He took his pain and helped others find their missing children before it was too late. Today, we discuss how that man, Jon Walsh, lost his son and what we all can do to be a little safer in these streets. Then, on to our book...

On the tenth anniversary of her youngest daughter's disappearance, one woman must choose to let go of her pain and reopen herself to life and love. After meeting a charming writer, who reminds her of her ex-husband, she begins a path that takes her somewhere she never imagined — to the truth about her daughter's disappearance a decade earlier.

The woman's name? Laurel Mack.

The book? Then She Was Gone: A Novel by Lisa Jewell

LET'S GET LIT!

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

We're taking a well-deserved break this week, but here's a favorite episode from our past!

What is love? Baby, don't hurt me.

Alicia Berenson is a beautiful, brilliant painter married to one of the best-looking fashion photographers in the world. Her life is seemingly perfect, so it is so unbelievable that she'd shoot her husband five times in the face and then refuse to speak again. What happened to push her over the edge? It becomes the mission of psychotherapist Theo Faber to find the answer. Will he succeed without losing himself in the process?

Before diving into this week's book, Alexis gives eight reasons why every one of us should be keeping a journal. We remember experiences better when we write them down (travel journal) and eat more thoughtfully when we jot down what we've put in our mouth (a food journal). Above all else, though, a journal can be a great way to get back at people posthumously (it will all make sense. Promise).

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

Iconic American poet, activist, playwright, and holder of numerous awards and 50 honorary degrees, Maya Angelou, was a giant among humans- but like all giants, she started small before learning to grow. This, the first of her famous autobiographies, tells of her modest start and the beginning of her meteoric rise. The lesson — no matter what we've been through, we all decide where we're going.

Before discussing Ms. Angelou, we'll talk about a subject dear to her heart, language. What's the difference between slang and dialect? Are their rules to the Black-American dialect? If so, what are they? Learn all of this and more on the latest episode of LIT Society. Enjoy y'all.

Let's GET LIT!

 

👩🏾‍🏫 🧑🏾‍🏫 Our Independent Bookstore of the Month: Café con Libros

724 Prospect Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11216

https://www.cafeconlibrosbk.com/

____________

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

What would you do if one of the people you admired most was accused of murder? Faced with this question, one teen decides to uncover the secrets her hometown’s been hiding for the last five years. She soon realizes that nearly everyone she knows is a suspect. What’s more, someone wants her quiet, and someone wants her dead. And You're listening to LIT Society.

Let's GET LIT!

 

👩🏾‍🏫 🧑🏾‍🏫 Our Independent Bookstore of the Month: Café con Libros

724 Prospect Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11216

https://www.cafeconlibrosbk.com/

____________

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

Pack your bags! We're touring Egypt and the Nile River, courtesy of Alexis! This week's theme paints a picture so vivid you'll feel as if you're there with the pyramids. Enjoy! Then, it's time for our book:

Suffering through his retirement, a world-renowned detective stumbles upon a glamorous young heiress and her new husband. Quickly, he discovers a love triangle that ends in a murder. Wealthy and beautiful, the victim is not short of enemies, but the person who did the deed was incredibly close. Will our detective find the culprit before another life is tragically cut short?

The detective’s name is Hercule Poirot.

The book is Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie.

And You're listening to LIT Society.

Let's GET LIT!

 

👩🏾‍🏫 🧑🏾‍🏫 Our Independent Bookstore of the Month: Café con Libros

724 Prospect Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11216

https://www.cafeconlibrosbk.com/

____________

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

An indomitable enemy, it holds you captive in your body as it eats away at your mind. Until it stops your mind and your heart, it is relentless. It abducts those you love the most, leaving you alone until even the person in the mirror becomes a stranger. That enemy is Alzheimer's Disease, and one brilliant woman is blind-sighted when having to face it too soon at an age too young.   The woman's name is Alice. The book is Still Alice by Lisa Genova. And You're listening to LIT Society. Let's GET LIT!  

👩🏾‍🏫 🧑🏾‍🏫 Our Independent Bookstore of the Month: Café con Libros

724 Prospect Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11216

https://www.cafeconlibrosbk.com/

____________

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

Alexis sits down for an intimate chat with renowned author Lisa Genova after our discussion of her book, Still Alice.

You can find more about Genova and her work here: https://www.lisagenova.com/

__________

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

👩🏾‍🏫 🧑🏾‍🏫 Our Independent Bookstore of the Month: Café con Libros

724 Prospect Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11216

https://www.cafeconlibrosbk.com/

_________________________________________

It’s the first episode of the month, and you know what that means – A WILD CARD EPISODE! We’re discussing memories, and how to remember what matters.

This is the first wild card episode produced by Alexis and it’s AMAZING. She takes us through the inner workings of our minds and ties this complex subject to her favorite animated movie.

We’ll conclude with a few tips on how to improve your memory today so that you can remember what matters tomorrow.

Let's get LIT! 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

🕵🏽‍♀️ Who do you love? Who deserves your loyalty? And are the two one and the same? One young, brilliant, beautiful FBI officer is tasked with betraying her heart in devotion to her country. Her mission will take her from the high rises of New York to the roads of West Africa to the island of her motherland. Will she have what it takes when the time comes to pull the trigger, or will she find herself on the wrong side of the gun?

Before diving into our book, we'll learn the truth about a woman many know as Mary Bowser, a former enslaved person and spy for the Union Army during the Civil War. (Psst! There will be a game, and Alexis WILL be put on the spot. Enjoy!

Our spy is Marie Mitchell.

The book is American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson.

LET'S GET LIT!

 

 👩🏾‍🏫 🧑🏾‍🏫 Our Independent Bookstore of the Month: Semicolon Bookstore & Gallery

1714 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

https://www.semicolonchi.com/

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

What do you know about arranged marriages? If you've ever watched The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Married at First Sight, Love is Blind, or a million other reality shows, you may know more than you think. This week, we're discussing arranged hitching and clearing up a few misconceptions about the practice. 

Then, it's on to our book: The search for happiness and peace is a difficult one, especially in a society that dismisses your thoughts and preys on your innocence. The distress of our Ghanaian protagonist is relatable to many women around the world. Will our heroine find love and acceptance in the manner she deserves and desires? What will she tolerate? What is she willing to risk for the sake of her sanity?

The woman: Afi Tekple

The book: His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie

LET'S GET LIT!

 

👩🏾‍🏫 🧑🏾‍🏫 Our Independent Bookstore of the Month: Semicolon Bookstore & Gallery

1714 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

https://www.semicolonchi.com/

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

An enslaved woman on a cotton plantation is considered an outcast by her fellow Africans, and as she comes into womanhood, her problems increase. What will she decide when a new enslaved man, Caesar, invites her to escape?

The book: The Underground Railroad

The author: Colson Whitehead

LET'S GET LIT!!!

- View the video podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@litsocietypod

Find Alexis and Kari online: 

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod

Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod

Our website — www.LitSocietyPod.com. 

Subscribe to emails and get free stuff: http://eepurl.com/gDtWCr 

🦀 This week, we discuss crabs and who's got them. No, this isn't a new celebrity gossip segment. We're talking crabs in a bucket syndrome, a.k.a. crabs in a barrel syndrome, a.k.a. crab mentality, a.k.a. tall poppy syndrome. These monikers all describe a phenomenon where people (usually peers, family, or close associates) try to hold back, criticize, or sabotage a person they perceive as too ambitious, non-conforming, or successful. So, who are the crabs in your life? How can we reach our goals despite those who downplay our progress? Let's talk about it!

Then, it's on to our book: Black girls, beware! Your biggest enemy is out to get you, and it's not who you may think. Nella Rogers realizes this, perhaps too late, when Hazel, a new black publishing assistant, moves into her department.

Will Hazel buoy Nella toward the promotion she's wanted for months, or will Hazel steal what's rightfully Nella's. 

The book: The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

LET'S GET LIT!

 

👩🏾‍🏫 🧑🏾‍🏫 Our Independent Bookstore of the Month: Semicolon Bookstore & Gallery

1714 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

https://www.semicolonchi.com/

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

👩🏾‍🏫 🧑🏾‍🏫 Our Independent Bookstore of the Month: Semicolon Bookstore & Gallery

1714 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

https://www.semicolonchi.com/

_________________________________________

🗣 Season three of LIT Society is here, and we’re proud to sit down for a chat with the gorgeous Jo Franco of Netflix’s hit travel series The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals.

Before conquering the world of travel vlogging for nearly a decade, learning countless languages, achieving her entrepreneurial dreams, and becoming a co-host for Netflix, Jo Franco was a writer.

In 2020, she founded JoClub, an online community for journalers bold enough to share their innermost thoughts with the world. JoClub’s membership program connects global writers for monthly meetings and discussions that help develop awareness, emotional intelligence, and self-discovery.

She joins us today to talk about the power of journaling and teach us how to live each day with intention by writing our thoughts and feelings down.

Let's get LIT!

 

Grab Kari's "Budweiser" inspired sweatshirt for yourself: https://www.litsocietypodshop.com/products/this-books-for-you 

Keep up with Jo Franco: https://www.instagram.com/jo_franco 

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

The premiere of season three is around the corner! A brand new episode is coming next week, Thursday, February 3rd. 'Til then, here's another favorite episode from our past!

Before we get into this week's book, we discuss forgiveness. Can you imagine? What does it take to forgive someone, and how do you know you've genuinely forgiven a person in your heart? Also, why do we need to be forgiving in the first place? We'll get into it.

And then it's on to the book that inspired this week's discussion. It's the early 1900s, and one quiet woman lives a happy life with her happy husband on a beautiful farm in Iowa. All is as it should be until a single act of betrayal puts her at odds against everyone she knows and trusts.

That woman's name is Margaret Stuart.

The book is Remembering Laughter, and you're listening to LIT Society.

Let's get LIT!

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

Have you heard? We got cooties and so season three of our show will now start Thursday, February 3rd. So, here's another favorite episode from our past!

Have you ever had to cut someone out of your life? No phone calls, texts, and your friends know not to invite both of you to the same event? This week, our theme, How to Cut Someone Out of Your Life, is inspired by Educated, a memoir by Tara Westover.

Tara didn’t have a birth certificate until she was nine years old and she didn’t see her first classroom until the age of 17. It’s like The Village by M. Night Shyamalan, but interesting. . .

Eventually, she’s forced to choose between a life without her family or most certain death by their hands. It got real, real quick. Travel with us from the peaks of Idaho to the halls of Cambridge in Educated.

Welcome to Lit Society. Let’s get LIT!

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

Yo. It's crazy because season three of our show was supposed to begin Thursday, January 13th, but we're both super sick thanks to Apryl Jones' ex. Season three will now start Thursday, February 3rd. So, here's another favorite episode from our past!

This week's theme, How to Survive a Crisis, is inspired by the first comic book we ever featured, and it's a doozie! What's more, our comic is non-fiction!

One girl, the beloved only child of progressive parents, is sent to school in Austria. This is the story of her childhood, growing up in a time of war and revolution. Her parents hope that she'll escape what they saw as the oppressive regime of Iran. Together, she and her country must decide who they're supposed to be and who they actually are.

The girl's name — Marjane Satrapi.

The book — Persepolis.

This is LIT Society.

Let's get LIT!

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

That's right. We're still on vacation! But we'd never leave you without a dope book to ...um... discuss. So, here's another favorite episode from our past! Remember, we return with a NEW episode on January 13th, 2022, the start of our THIRD SEASON. 'Til then, we're ecstatic to share with you the shows still living rent-free in our heads.

Hyde yo' kids! Hyde yo' wife! A young doctor allows his obsession with the duality of human nature to lead him down a path littered with lies, murder, and destruction.

His name is Doctor Henry Jekyll; the book is The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

You're listening to Lit Society.

LET'S GET LIT!!!

PS: This is our very first episode, released initially to a small group of test listeners in 2019. We like to think the quality of our show has improved since then, but this is still one of our favorite episodes!

Enjoy!

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.⁣

Hey, y'all! This is Kari. Alexis and I are still enjoying a much-deserved vacation. So, here's another favorite episode from our past! Remember, we return with a NEW episode on January 13th, 2022, the start of our THIRD SEASON. 'Til then, we're ecstatic to share with you the shows still living rent-free in our heads.

Is fear the hairline to your inner Lebron James? Does it stop you from being great? Do you sometimes hear a negative voice inside of your head telling you you're not good enough? One psychologist wants you to take control of that voice with a system of positive thinking that leads to power. 

Her name is Susan Jeffers. 

The book is Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. And you're listening to Lit Society. 

Let's get LIT!

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

We're throwing it back again this Thursday, with another favorite episode from our past! Remember, we return with a NEW episode on January 13th, 2022, the start of our THIRD SEASON. 'Til then, we're ecstatic to share with you the shows still living rent-free in our heads.

And now for the crass:

The life of the sometimes-brilliant Ignatius J. Reilly is one comedic tragedy after another. He lives with his mother, dresses funny, isn't particularly charming, but has enough self-assurance to compensate for all he's lacking — or at least that's what he tells himself. In A Confederacy of Dunces, we follow a particular chapter in Ignatius's life that involves a hot dog, a pet cockatoo, and a valve — all set in the beautiful city of New Orleans.

Written in the 60s, it is somehow an accurate study of 21st-century male loneliness and inertia in America. Yup. It's a comedy.

Before tackling Ignatius, we'll share some tips on dealing with obnoxious people. Save this one for your next family reunion.

Let's get LIT!

 

Find Alexis and Kari online:

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; 

Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; 

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; 

and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. 

This Thursday, we're getting ReLIT with another throwback to one of our favorite shows from season one!

The topic of our opening discussion is "How to Deal with Hostile People." LISTEN UP! We're sharing the tools we all need for putting up with other people's (adult) children.

Then, it's on to our book: The first published science fiction novel written by a black woman, it is the story of a 26-year-old writer living in California. She is inexplicably ripped from her home and thrown into antebellum Maryland one ordinary day. On the other side awaits more than a few tough decisions and a puzzle that she must solve before returning home for good. 

The writer's name is Dana.  The book is Kindred.  And you're listening to LIT Society.  Let's get LIT!

Find Alexis and Kari online:

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/;

Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; 

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/;

and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. 

This Thursday, we're getting reLIT with a throwback to one of our favorite shows from season one!

Such a Fun Age is a story contrasting who we are as individuals against the role society has cast us to play. It follows Emira Tucker, a black 25-year-old who feels she's failing at adult life, and her white 30-something boss Alix who teeters around her own looming failures. As the two make efforts to dissolve their differences, a shocking realization shows the futility of doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. 

And speaking of the "A" word, ADULTING, we'll share some expert tips on how to grow up successfully, which we both are still figuring out how to do.

This is LIT Society. 

Let's get LIT!

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

Alexis and Kari are on a well-deserved break this week, so we'd like to share one of their favorite past episodes with you, The LITeratti. 

This week's theme, How to Survive a Crisis, is inspired by an amazing non-fic graphic novel, now turned into a film!

One girl, the beloved only child of progressive parents, is sent to school in Austria. This is the story of her childhood, growing up in a time of war and revolution. Her parents hope that she'll escape what they see as Iran's oppressive regime. Together, she and her country must decide who they're supposed to be and who they actually are.

The girl's name — Marjane Satrapi.

The book — Persepolis.

This is LIT Society.

Let's get LIT!

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod/; Twitter — twitter.com/litsocietypod; Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod/; and our website www.LitSocietyPod.com. Get in on the conversation by using #booksanddrama.

 

🗣Hear ye, hear ye! We are geeks and not afraid to show it.

Fortunately, we have found a community of fellow book-loving weirdos in you, and for that, we're grateful. Today, we bring you the weirdest thing we do – dramatic readings of our favorite passages from our favorite (and least favorite) books. We've taken sections from past shows and stuffed them into one very strange episode.

Please note! There will be spoilers. So, if you haven't read ALL the books below, maybe don't listen to this episode. Instead, plant a tree and call your mom. Okay, bye.

 

Episodes referenced in this show:

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow: https://litsocietypod.com/the-sound-of-stars 

Animal Farm by George Orwell: https://litsocietypod.com/animal-farm/ 

Remembering Laughter by Wallace Stegner: https://litsocietypod.com/remembering-laughter/ 

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole: https://litsocietypod.com/a-confederacy-of-dunces/ 

Season Finale: The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey and Michaela Angela Davis: https://litsocietypod.com/the-meaning-of-mariah-carey/ 

The Autobiography of Malcolm X As Told to Alex Haley: https://litsocietypod.com/the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x-as-told-to-alex-haley/ 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: https://litsocietypod.com/pride-and-prejudice/ 

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (Part 1): https://litsocietypod.com/anna-karenina-part-1/ 

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (Part 2): https://litsocietypod.com/anna-karenina-part-2/ 

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson: https://litsocietypod.com/jekyll-and-hyde/ 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (Part 1): https://litsocietypod.com/jane-eyre-by-charlotte-bronte-part-1/ 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (Part 2): https://litsocietypod.com/jane-eyre-part-2/ 

Persuasion by Jane Austen: https://litsocietypod.com/persuasion/ 

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (Part 1): https://litsocietypod.com/jurassic-park-by-michael-crichton-part-1/ 

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (PART 2): https://litsocietypod.com/jurassic-park-by-michael-crichton-part-2/ 

 

Find Alexis and Kari online:

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod;

Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod;

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod;

Website — www.LitSocietyPod.com

 

Some are good, some are great, and others are an abomination. We're talking books; specifically, we are discussing the books we loved (and hated) most from season two. If you're new to our podcast or a long-time listener, this is an excellent episode to find the books and discussion we enjoyed the most.

Which of these recommended reads are you bringing on your road trips and vacations this year? Let us know on social media or email us at AskUs@LITSocietyPod.com.

A few of the episodes we mention this show are as follows: Persuasion: https://litsocietypod.com/persuasion Anxious People: https://litsocietypod.com/anxious-people Convenience Store Woman: https://litsocietypod.com/convenience-store-woman Jurassic Park (Part 1): https://litsocietypod.com/jurassic-park-by-michael-crichton-part-1 Jurassic Park (Part 2): https://litsocietypod.com/jurassic-park-by-michael-crichton-part-2 The Wedding: https://litsocietypod.com/the-wedding-by-dorothy-west Jane Eyre (Part 1): https://litsocietypod.com/jane-eyre-by-charlotte-bronte-part-1 Jane Eyre (Part 2): https://litsocietypod.com/jane-eyre-part-2 Deacon King Kong: https://litsocietypod.com/deacon-king-kong

 

Find Alexis and Kari online:

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod;

Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod;

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod;

Website — www.LitSocietyPod.com

We talked about Passing by Nella Larsen three episodes ago. That book made an impact on our minds, and we won't soon forget the story of Clare and Irene. Fortunately for all of us, Netflix recently released a movie adaptation of that book, and we need to talk about it. Oooo chile, this movie!

The setting is Harlen in the 1920s. One Black woman, who sometimes passes as white, finds her world upended when her life becomes intertwined with a former childhood friend who's passing as white. Rebecca Hall (The Prestige, Iron Man 3, Transcendence, Godzilla vs. Kong) makes her directorial debut with this intimate drama of racial identity starring Tessa Thompson (Thor: Ragnarok, Creed, Sylvie's Love, Selma) and Ruth Negga (Loving, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).

Let's get MOVIE-D!

🎧 Listen to our review of Passing, the book by Nella Larsen: https://litsocietypod.com/passing-by-nella-larsen/. 

Find Alexis and Kari online:  Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod;  Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod;  Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod;  Website — www.LitSocietyPod.com

IT'S THE SEASON FINALE! Can y'all believe we've been reading books with you for TWO YEARS?! We're so grateful to you listeners who support our show and keep up with us on Instagram and Twitter. To close out the second season, Alexis has created a game you're sure to love: Is it a Song or a Movie? Guess correctly for a chance to win a virtual, nontransferable prize worth no monetary sum and which we will never provide you. Then, on to this week's book...

Moved to overcome the trauma of his youth, he attempts to build the perfect life. He finds success as a hip-hop artist, a television star, and one of the biggest movie stars of all time. His power to draw an audience is undeniable, but will his push toward perfection ruin his dreams?

The star: Willard Carroll Smith II The book: Will by Will Smith

Let's get LIT!

 

Find Alexis and Kari online:  Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod;  Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod;  Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod;  Website — www.LitSocietyPod.com

Who doesn't love the smooth, mouthwatering goodness of chocolate? In bars, biscuits, and brownies, chocolate is the winning ingredient, but everything ain't always sweet when it comes to this treat. We'll tell you the story of a town that experienced the unthinkable, Death by Chocolate! 

Then, on to our book:

There are books – some big, some tall That make you feel as if you're small And like a kid who loves a story You'll start to laugh at gloom that's gory 'Cause at the center of this tale There is a man (it never fails) His love for kids you won't find touching Nor his indentured servants from other countries But if you can stomach his dark fascinations You may enjoy these prevarications Even if you find him unsatisfactory There's great fun to be had in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

The book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

LET'S GET LIT!

 

Find Alexis and Kari online:  Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod;  Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod;  Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod;  Website — www.LitSocietyPod.com

This week, we're moving on up to the rooftop as Alexis takes us on a tour of the nation's top rooftop bars and restaurants.

Then, it's on to our book:

One woman finds her past sitting across a room, and, against her better judgment, she starts down a path that goes against everything she is and ever has been. In the end, she will find rest and security only through the sacrifice of another.   The woman: Irene Redfield The book: Passing by Nella Larsen   LET'S GET LIT!   Find Alexis and Kari online:  Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod;  Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod;  Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod;  Website — www.LitSocietyPod.com

Honestly, the last few years have been more challenging than high notes for J.Lo.  Friends and family are helping us keep our joy, despite everything. What if, though, you don't have as many friends as you'd like or what if your family lives far away? There's an app for that. You can build a friend, customizing everything from their style to the cadence of their voice. Tech companies are doing all they can to help us feel less lonely, but are these artificial friends doing more harm than good? We'll talk about it. Then, it's on to our book.

One uniquely intelligent AI finds herself among a human family that constantly breaks promises and acts disloyally. Yet, the AI is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for her new owner and their family. In the end, we must ask, "what is love," and does it belong only to those with a heart?

The intelligent AI: Klara

The book: Klara and the Sun

 

LET'S GET LIT!

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: 

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod; 

Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod; 

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod; 

Website — www.LitSocietyPod.com

This week, Alexis puts Kari on the spot, for a change, with a game she invented based on the music of the '70s. Will Kari emerge the winner or suffer a defeat so humiliating that she quits the podcast and moves to Florida. Stay tuned.

Then, it's on to our book: A fictional story, written as a brilliant profile on one of the greatest and most misunderstood rock duos in history. Think Mick Jagger and Tina Turner - or Grace Jones + David Bowie. It interviews those responsible for Opal and Nev's rise to fame. Each producer, bandmate, and agent tell their side of who the two stars were and what role they played in the horrific event that led to a man's death and Opal and Nev's ostracization by industry insiders and wannabes for years to come.

Find Alexis and Kari online: 

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod; 

Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod; 

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod; 

Website — www.LitSocietyPod.com

We've invented another game for you this week! Play along and see if you can beat Alexis. The theme is banned books, and a few of your favorites are sure to be on the list. Then, it's on to this week's feature...

Books are illegal, and being caught with one could mean your life. Society is high on the pacifying pleasures fed to them constantly, including catchy jingles and family-centered television. In this world, firemen don't stop fires; they cause them, bursting into the homes of arrested offenders and setting their literature ablaze. But one fireman has a secret that turns into a problem sure to burn his existence, including everyone he knows, to ash.

The disillusioned firefighter? Guy Montag The book: Fahrenheit 451

LET'S GET LIT!

______________________________________

Find Alexis and Kari online: 

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod; 

Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod; 

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod; 

Website — www.LitSocietyPod.com

Before we dive into the thrilling conclusion of Jurassic Park, we have to get something off of our chest. Is this a safe space? Can we be honest about one of the darkest habits of society? That's right. Zoos.

Are memories of innocent animals restricted in cages the highlight of your childhood? Well, we're not judging, but let's be real about where menageries and zoos started and why so many people are turning away from them. Shout out to Bubbles.

Then it's on to part two of Jurassic Park by Michael Chrichton. Where we ended last week, the chaos was only beginning. Now the dinos are getting their Sha'Carri on all over the park, with no one able to stop them. Who will survive when the dust settles, and where did the movie diverge from the book?

LET'S GET LIT!

______________________________________

A brief look at Ming the Tiger, who lived in a Harlem apartment building: https://youtu.be/V_bhpR85mD4.

_______________________________________

This week's LIT Indie: Pilsen Community Books

1102 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608

(312) 478-9434

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: 

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod; 

Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod; 

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod; 

Website — www.LitSocietyPod.com

Why do you travel? Is relaxation your strongest motivation, or is it a desire to fill your IG feed with enviable photos? Do you look for comfort when abroad? Or do you hunger to taste the culture of others? Would you like to be treated like royalty? Or do you humbly present yourself as a guest in the home of another? One woman shares with us her travel philosophy as she strives to become the first Black woman to visit every country in the world.

The woman: Jessica Nabongo

The book: The Catch Me If You Can: One Woman's Journey to Every Country in the World

LET'S GET LIT!

- View the video podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@litsocietypod

Find Alexis and Kari online: 

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod

Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod

Our website — www.LitSocietyPod.com. 

Subscribe to emails and get free stuff: http://eepurl.com/gDtWCr 

 

Despite what we often hear, can the movie ever be better than the book? This week, our theme is just that, and we talk in detail about movies that outshined their source material. Yes, Devil Wears Prada is on this list. Then, it's on to our book...

What if dinosaurs walked the earth today? Like all questions, the subtext is about power. Who would profit, who would dominate, and who would die? In this page-turning, cliffhanger-packed novel, unbelievable ideas are presented in packages so digestible and feasible that they seem possible, and, in the end, the real monster is who we expected it to be all along. Man. (Oooo, that's deep.)

 

The man with a master plan? John Hammond

 

The book? Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

 

LET'S GET LIT!

 

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: 

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod; 

Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod; 

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod; 

Website — www.LitSocietyPod.com

Y'all don't wanna wear masks. Y'all don't wanna get a shot. But y'all still wanna be out here hoppin' on planes, trains, and automobiles. Okay, fine. Well, here are some fool-proof tips for staying safe while traveling right now. If you're not about a mask or a vax, pay special attention to tip number one. And then we're on to our book ...

Le Tour du Monde en Quatre-Vingts Jour is a story about a man so bored with his life that he may rob a bank, definitely beats up a priest, and travels around the world while learning nothing about the cultures that inhabit it.

Still, this mindful romp has delighted readers for over a century, proving there's perhaps no better vacation than the one we give our brain.

The traveler: Phileas Fogg

The Book: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

LET'S GET LIT!

 

Find Alexis and Kari online: 

Instagram — www.instagram.com/litsocietypod; 

Twitter — www.twitter.com/litsocietypod; 

Facebook — www.facebook.com/LitSocietyPod; 

Website — www.LitSocietyPod.com

NOTE: Avoid spoilers by skipping 48:23 - 58:08

Today, we go back to high school as Alexis teaches us the elemental points of Greek tragedy, prepping our discussion of this week's book (which itself is a tragedy in more ways than one). What is a Greek tragedy, and which notable writers lifted the formula for their works? Broaching this topic is sure to make you blind with delight. (See what I did there?)  

Then, on to our book: Folks are dying all over campus, and one therapist-turned-detective knows who's behind the bodies, or does she? Coming head to head with the university's most beloved professor will either land her on the right side of justice or six feet underground. Follow our self-appointed sleuth through the murky waters of speculation and circumstantial evidence until everyone knows the truth except her.

Let's get LIT!