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On this episode, our guest is Joe Hourihan. Joe is an attorney with four decades of legal experience. He is a native of Hartford, Connecticut where he attended Trinity College and the UCONN school of Law.  Joe describes growing up the child of immigrants in a Catholic household with a mother who hoped he’d become a priest, and shares how reading educated him about his own culture and set him on a different path from his parents. To share your story on Chapters, email us at Chapterspod@gmail.com

On our latest episode, we talk to Chris Bouton. Chris is a historian turned jury researcher who is working on a book about slave violence in antebellum Virginia. On this episode we talk childhood forays into play writing inspired by books, reading about the Civil War, reading on the beach, an influential reading of Moneyball, being an introvert, and more. To share your story on Chapters, email us at Chapterspod@gmail.com

We asked our listeners what kinds of reading experiences helped them to understand their sexuality. In honor of pride month, we're sharing some of your submissions with a particular focus on one listener's letter about the role E.E. Cummings' "Somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond" played in her life. To share what authors/poems/books inspired you, share your story with us on facebook and twitter @chapterspod using the hashtag #chapterspride. ]]>

On this episode, we’re going to enter the vault with historian Matt Guariglia and examine FBI files – files created by the FBI to monitor suspicious – and as we’ll hear, even patriotic Americans and other persons of interest. On this episode we’ll hear why Rod Serling of the Twilight Zone was of interest to the FBI, what’s in Debbie Reynolds’ file, learn about an offer Walt Disney made to the FBI, and more.]]>

Join us on our latest episode where we meet guest Marisa Hicking. Marisa is the Teen Librarian at Avon Free Public Library in Avon, Connecticut. On this episode we talk loving horse books, sci-fi, fantasy, linking our memories of books to the places we read them, the path to becoming a librarian, and more. Check out our website www.chapterspod.com if you would like to share your story on Chapters. ]]>

On this episode with guest Eddie Guimont, we talk Carl Sagan, Calvin and Hobbes, Sci-Fi, all things Star Wars novels, and much more. If you want to share your story on chapters, visit us at www.chapterspod.com

On this episode, we meet Catherine Hammer, a librarian currently living in Florida where she works for the Broward County Library System. Before changing careers, she worked as a performer and musical director for regional and touring theater companies across the United States. On this episode we talk Christian fiction, the difference between good and bad Christian romances, books parents didn’t want you to read growing up (hint: Sweet Valley High), dancer biographies, reading books set in places you happen to be traveling, and much more. To share your story on Chapters, visit us online at www.chapterspod.com

After Trump took office one year ago today, Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Massachusetts set out to create an event that would allow readers to gather in community over a shared love of reading. The resulting event, an overnight readathon on October 7, 2017, drew several readers who brought with them books suited for a marathon read. Some brought several books with them, and bought more after browsing the shelves of the store. We attended the event and interviewed some of the participants on their idea of a book meant to be read in one sitting. Thanks to the organizers and readers who shared their stories with us on this special episode. To share your story on Chapters, visit our website, www.chapterspod.com To visit Porter Square Books online, check out their website: http://www.portersquarebooks.com/

On our first episode of 2018, we mark the birthday of Elvis Presley with the story of his life as a reader. Fans may know Elvis from his music, movies, iconic fashion, or even from his famous home, Graceland. What can we learn about Elvis from considering his life as a reader? Elvis read voraciously, and travelled with suitcases full of books when he toured. In this episode, we'll hear from his spiritual advisor, Larry Geller, and learn about the role books played in Elvis' spiritual life. Elvis wanted to know why he'd been chosen to live such a singular life, and turned to books for answers. This was not a search without challenges, however. We'll hear about an alleged book burning at Graceland, ordered by Elvis' manager to put an end to Elvis' spiritual quest, and Geller's influence. His search for meaning and for answers continued until his untimely death, however. Though he kept no diary, some measure of his life as a reader remains scribbled in the notes he left in the margins of his books. To see some of Elvis' marginalia, check out Larry Geller's book, The Leaves of Elvis' Garden: http://amzn.to/2m7v2XX To tell you story on Chapters, visit our website: www.chapterspod.com

Here are some of our favorite stories from the last year. Thank you to everyone who shared their story with us! If you want to share your story on Chapters, find us at www.chapterspod.com ]]>

Jolenta Greenberg is a New York-based comedian. She's a Moth StorySLAM winner and a sometime contributor for NY Public Radio and BBC Radio. Currently, she is co-host (along with Kristen Meinzer) of the Panoply podcast, By The Book. By The Book, is a podcast reality show meets book club - where Greenberg and Meinzer live by different self help books to see if any actually work. It was a pleasure to learn about the books that helped shape her life, whether it was Katherine Hepburn’s memoirs, plays like Angels in America, or the self-help books she reads with Kristen Meinzer on By the Book. This is Jolenta's story. Today's podcast is brought to you by audible - get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at www.audibletrial.com/Chapters. There you’ll find over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player.

On today's episode we meet Rachel Greenhaus. Rachel is a lapsed academic, professional cookbook editor, and over-enthusiastic home baker. She likes to think of herself as an independent scholar of Gender and the Poetry of Cake Recipes. From Shakespeare to Julia Child and the Joy of Cooking, this is Rachel's story. To share your story on Chapters, visit us at www.chapterspod.com ]]>

On today's episode we talk with Danny Byrne. Danny was raised on books that he's now sharing with his twins as a new dad (I Will Love You Forever, The Giving Tree, Berenstain Bears). He tells us about that, and about growing up reading about baseball. From Chicago, Danny turned to books to understand the world around him. Toni Morrison became a treasured author in his life, both for the beauty of her prose and her wisdom on issues of social justice. When he met his wife, he dabbled in rereading. Never a fan of Jane Austen when required to read it in high school, his wife inspired him to reread Austen's novels. On the second try, he found much to respect.What changed? Danny or Jane Austen's books? This is Danny's story. ]]>

On this episode, we talk with Melanie Newport. Melanie Newport is an assistant professor of History at the University of Connecticut at its Hartford campus. Originally hailing from Tulsa, OK and Tacoma, WA, she is currently working on a book called Community of the Condemned: Chicago and the Transformation of the American Jail. On today’s episode, Melanie shares stories about reading books as a child that allowed her to imagine herself into the past, from Little House on the Prairie to the American Girl series. While pursuing a career in History, Melanie had to rethink her reading. Specifically, how could she navigate reading disturbing accounts in her archival research into the history of Chicago’s jails, and simultaneously turn to books as an escape? From Little House on the Prairie to reading the archive, this is Melanie’s story. If you want to share your story on Chapters, visit our website at www.chapterspod.com . For more information on Melanie's research, visit her site at https://melanienewport.com/ . ]]>

On this episode of Chapters, we meet Matt Blackburn, a research analyst who lives in Boston. Matt shares his experiences with books that have defined his life as a reader from Goodnight Moon to Walden, Dune, and beyond. We discuss what it's like to travel to the site of a treasured book (Walden), and much more. To share your story on Chapters, visit www.chapterspod.com .

Join us this week as we talk with historian Erin Bartram. We discuss Nancy Drew, Baby-Sitters Club, and the appeal of books for children in which adults take kids seriously. We also talk about a kind of reading unique to historians: reading an archive of primary sources. Erin has read thousands of letters, journals and other documents to help her reconstruct the life of her nineteenth-century subject, Jane Sedgwick. We counter that discussion of reading and history by closing with thoughts about what it's like to read social media. How is reading twitter a unique kind of reading? To share your story on Chapters, please visit us at www.chapterspod.com ]]>

Every year, on July 31st, readers gather at Mystic Seaport on the decks of the last remaining wooden whaling ship to read Moby Dick in twenty-four hours. “Herman Melville” opens the Moby Dick Marathon by reciting the first chapter from memory, and rejoins the community of readers on his birthday, August 1st, for the end of the book. On this episode of Chapters, we examine the idea of a reading marathon. How does it change your experience of reading a book to read it marathon style in the company of other readers? We'll hear from readers at the Mystic marathon, talk to its organizers, and try to understand the significance of Moby Dick Marathons, an event that takes place across the country and around the world. If you want to take part in this year's marathon, visit www.mysticseaport.org for more information. To tell your story on Chapters, visit www.chapterspod.com ]]>

On this week's episode we talk to Matt, founder of the gossip blog and curated archive of celebrity culture, Pop Culture Died in 2009. In our conversation, Matt shares how he became interested in celebrity gossip culture in the early aughts, and how he amassed the archive of celebrity magazines he uses to create his site. There's been speculation that celebrity gossip magazines are becoming the victim of the digital age, and Matt reflects on being both a part of this digital celebrity gossip world, and an avid fan of its print culture. To share your story on Chapters, visit us at www.chapterspod.com . ]]>

Join us on this week's episode as we talk with Mark Barone about the Lord of the Rings, Stephen King novels, Game of Thrones, and more! We'll hear stories about stealing a book from a public library, and the best way to protect a book in your backpack. Hint: it involves a pasta box. If you'd like the share your story on Chapters, please visit us at www.chapterspod.com ]]>