When Books Were Fun

When Books Were Fun Episode 010: Two Comic Plays

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:00:05 +0000

In which we discuss The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (1895) and The Admirable Crichton (1902) by J. M. Barrie, noting the humor of the trivial, and the relevance of these two plays to modern society. whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

When Books Were Fun Episode 009: Reading Shakespeare

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:00:20 +0000

In which we discuss the plays of William Shakespeare and why reading these plays can often be more entertaining and instructive than seeing them performed. whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

When Books Were Fun Episode 008: Two Immoral Books?

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:00:52 +0000

In which we discuss The History of Tom Jones by Henry Fielding (1749) and Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser (1969) and discuss how tales of adultery and misbehavior might actually be moralistic, most definitely so in Tom Jones, and somewhat indirectly in Flashman and its sequels. whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

When Books Were Fun Episode 007: Three Books About Childhood

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:00:53 +0000

In which we discuss novels about childhood, Penrod by Booth Tarkington (1914) and The Golden Age and Dream Days by Kenneth Grahame (1895 and 1898) and ponder what aspects of childhood are determined by historical time and place, and what aspects are eternal.

whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

When Books Were Fun Episode 006: The English Riverside

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:00:22 +0000

In which we discuss Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome (1889) and The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (1908) and contrast a (somewhat) factual account of three men (and a dog) boating on the Thames with a child’s fantasy of Mole, Rat, Badger, and Mr. Toad, and their adventures along a river and the English countryside.

whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

When Books Were Fun Episode 005: Homer’s Odyssey

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:00:59 +0000

In which we discuss Homer’s Odyssey and why reading a poem that’s several thousand years old might be more entertaining that watching its movie adaption.

whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

When Books Were Fun 004: Freddy the Pig

Mon, 25 May 2026 16:00:43 +0000

In which we discuss some of the Freddy the Pig books of Walter R. Brooks and their depiction of the Bean farm and a traditional 20^th century America, Freddy’s vocation as a detective, and his relationships with the other animals, not to mention Freddy and the Baseball Team from Mars. whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

When Books Were Fun 003: Dr. Seuss and More

Mon, 18 May 2026 16:00:26 +0000

In which we discuss children’s picture books in general, focusing mostly on the works of Dr. Seuss, and emphasize the importance of reading to children. whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

When Books Were Fun 002: Sherlock Holmes

Mon, 11 May 2026 16:00:23 +0000

In which we discuss the Sherlock Holmes stories of Arthur Conan Doyle, focusing mostly on The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892). whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.

When Books Were Fun 001: Introduction

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:00:28 +0000

In which two cranky old men attempt to convince you the listener that popular fiction used to be fun before publishing, libraries, and education became politicized and that traditionalists, homeschooling families, and anyone looking for a good read should consider the popular works discussed here. whenbookswerefun@gmail.com Check out Al’s stories at sonrisestories.com. Check out Jeff’s upcoming book at perebruinpress.com.