For the first episode of Book Fight, Tom and Mike met in the Book Fight Basement™ to talk about Sam Lipsyte’s 2010 novel The Ask. Topics included: the limitations of ironic detachment, whether Holden Caulfield would be a tender lover, and why Tom can’t be happy even at The Happiest Place on Earth.

Check back in the next few days for the full podcast. In the meantime, if you have suggestions for books we should read, you can leave them in the comments. Or send us an email.