For years, Mike would see references to Ford Madox Ford in articles about famous modernist writers and think: “I should really check that guy out one of these days.” Well, listeners, that day is today. Mike drags Tom along for an exploration of The Good Soldier, Ford’s most famous book, a short novel about two couples whose lives intersect at a German spa for people with heart ailments. “This is the saddest story I have ever heard,” the book begins, before plunging readers into a sometimes disorienting tale of infidelity and (maybe?) murder.
We talk about the book’s non-chronological storytelling technique, as well as the unreliable narrator at its center, whose version of events we’re never quite sure how much to trust. Also this week: #DonutQuest2019 continues, with Tom bringing over a couple samplings from his home state of New Jersey.
As always, you can stream the show right here on our site, or download the mp3 file to listen to later. Or check us out in Apple podcasts, where you can subscribe (for free!) and catch up on older episodes. We’re also available on Spotify, Stitcher, or just about any other podcast app. If for some reason you can’t find us in your favorite app, please reach out and let us know!
If you like the show and would like more Book Fight in your life, consider subscribing to our Patreon. For $5/month, you’ll get access to regular bonus episodes, including monthly episodes of Book Fight After Dark, where we read some of the world’s weirdest romance novels. And starting this week, we’ll be adding new mini-episodes in a series called Reading the Room, in which we offer advice on how to navigate awkward, writing-related social situations.
Thanks for listening!
Stream Episode 293:
Book Fight! 