The Reader – Details, episodes & analysis

What is this thing we call Shared Reading? How does it work? Who is it for? What has changed in over two decades of The Reader’s Shared Reading? To help answer these questions, we spoke to a group of people who have led Shared Reading groups over many years in a variety of settings. Listen in for their honest, thoughtful and moving reflections.

It’s a bumper episode - see below for time stamps to help you navigate it: 

0.00 - 12.22: Introductions to the speakers 

12.23 - 51.07: The nuts and bolts of Shared Reading – how it works 

51.30 - 1.02.00 The rewards of Shared Reading – who it’s for 

1.02.17 - 1.12.22 How Shared Reading has changed (or how it hasn’t) 

Links:

The International Shared Reading Conference at Calderstones

Find out more about Shared Reading

Find a Shared Reading group near you

Become a Reader volunteer

The founder of The Reader, Jane Davis, leads an online Shared Reading group who have met on Zoom every week for over two years to read The Prelude, a long, autobiographical poem by William Wordsworth. In this episode, members of the group explain how they came to be part of this special shared endeavour and what the experience has meant to them. We’ll hear about the early days of The Reader, and gain insight into how Shared Reading can create fellowship, powerful thoughts and feelings, and a shared sense of deeper meaning. 

The Prelude by William Wordsworth (online text) 

The Prelude by William Wordsworth (buy a copy) 

Jane Davis reads Paradise Lost on Substack  

Find a Shared Reading group near you 

Today's poem is 'A January Dandelion' by George Marion McClellan. It's read by Alex McCarten from The Reader.

Production by Chris Lynn. Music by Chris Lynn & Frank Johnson.

Today's poem is 'The Old Year' by John Clare. It's read by Jamie Barton from The Reader.

Production by Chris Lynn. Music by Chris Lynn & Frank Johnson.

Today's poem is 'The Burning of the Leaves' by Laurence Binyon. It's read by Clare Ellis from The Reader.

Today's poem is 'Snow in the Suburbs' by Thomas Hardy. It's read by Sue Highfield from The Reader.

Merry Christmas!

Today's poem is 'Winter Stars' by Sara Teasdale. It's read by Sami Wilson from The Reader.

Today's poem is 'Winter Trees' by William Carlos Williams. It's read by George Hawkins from The Reader.

From 'The Collected Poems Vol.1: 1909-1939' by William Carlos Williams (Carcanet, 2018). Permission requested.

Today's poem is 'Winter Days' by Gareth Owen. It's read by Carole Simms from The Reader.

From 'Collected Poems' by Gareth Owen (Macmillan, 2000) Permission requested.

Production by Chris Lynn. Music by Chris Lynn & Frank Johnson.

Today's poem is 'The Faint Shadow of the Morning Moon' by Yone Noguchi. It's read by Sophie Envis from The Reader.

Production by Chris Lynn. Music by Chris Lynn & Frank Johnson.