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 debate is how to write about fascism in a world saturated with the subject. Have thoughts on ..read more

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 help them see the ending through a different lens. Have thoughts on this story? Did we miss a cruc ..read more

Discussion Notes: The City Born Great This week’s story: The City Born Great by N. K. Jemisin  Next week’s story: The Theresa Job by Colson Whitehead  Rated: Clean Gerald, 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 thoughts on this story? Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on ..read more

Discussion Notes: The Specialist’s Hat This week’s story: The Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link  Next week’s story: The City Born Great by N. K. Jemisin  Rated: Clean Gerald, 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 miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroadhouse or in our ..read more

Discussion Notes: Foster This week’s story: Foster by Bryan Washington  Next week’s story: The Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link  Rated: EXPLICIT Gerald, 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 beneath the story, and there’s a lot to chew on. Have thoughts on this story? Did we mi ..read more

Discussion Notes: The Interlopers This week’s story: The Interlopers by H. H. Munro  Next week’s story: Foster by Bryan Washington  Rated: Clean Gerald, 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 “Wolves!” Have thoughts on this story? Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell ..read more

Discussion Notes: Hot Ice This week’s story: Hot Ice by Stuart Dybek  Next week’s story: The Interlopers by H.H. Munro (SAKI)  Rated: Clean Gerald, 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 FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers. Support us on Patreon We are an indie podca ..read more

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 over some readers’ heads for ill. This anxiety prompted a discussion on whether or not i ..read more

Discussion Notes: Objects in Space This week’s story: Objects in Space by Emily Davis  Next week’s story: The Case for and Against Love Potions by Imbolo Mbue  Rated: Clean Gerald, 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 @litroadhouse or in our FB group The Literary Roadhouse Readers. Support us on Patreon We are ..read more

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 on this story? Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below! Or on Twitter @litroa ..read more