A Faking Lit Primer

This week the Idiots tackle the beautiful ungainly beast that is Fyodor Dostoyevsky's final novel, The Brothers Karamazov. Topics covered in our wide-ranging, all-singing, all-dancing conversation include Dan's brief unsuccessful time as a farmer, Subway's use of complex mathematical proofs to upsell sandwiches, why Friends works better when it's in French and an unfortunate realisation as to what the show's catchphrase is.

Today's episode is sponsored by the Pistache Child Rehousing Project, helping to rehouse kids no matter what their parents have to say about it.

Episode 6 - The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

In which the Idiots discuss the bestselling weep-fest that is "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks - share the secrets to a successful dumping - learn why dogs are not good podcast producers - are hijacked by a series of podcasts spontaneously starting in the middle of this podcast.

With special guest, podcast creator and husband of Serial's Sarah Koenig, Steve Koenig.

Episode 11 - The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

In which the Idiots discuss D.H. Lawrence's controversial classic "Lady Chatterley's Lover" - discuss whether pornography and romance are mutually exclusive - wonder what makes inter-class sex so hot - fail to understand what Irony is - Haran opens up about his marital problems - Alice tries to recover from her hangover.

Featuring Special Guest Expert "Hungry" James.

Episode 14 - Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence

In which the Idiots kick off their possibly ill-advised Summer Reading Season and discuss the cult book "The Beach" by Alex Garland - wonder why nobody ever tries to do a sexy Chinese accent - Sasha recommends erotica involving Clippy the Microsoft Office Assistant - Tom shares a very personal story about somebody else -we expose the anti-immigrant sentiment at the heart of the novel - we alienate everybody in South Africa.

Featuring Special Guest Experts Sasha Ellen, Tom Redman and Robot Louis Stevenson, a sex obsessed AI.

Episode 16 - The Beach by Alex Garland (with Sasha Ellen & Tom Redman!)

In which the Idiots continue the Summer Reading Season with Yann Martel's 2002 Man Booker Prize Winner - Chin insists that there's nothing wrong with his interactions with animals - one of the Idiots is outed as a "Yiffer" with a secret Deviantart account - work out how many times it is possible to have watched the film "Battlefield Earth" since its release on May 12 2000.

Featuring Special Guest Experts Tom Redman, Sasha Ellen, and returning True Crime Mystery Podcaster/Freeloader Steve Koenig.

Episode 17 - Life of Pi by Yann Martel (with Sasha Ellen & Tom Redman!)

In this very special episode, the Idiots manage to get their hands on a leaked manuscript of George RR Martin's long-awaited, and long delayed, continuation of his epic "A Song of Ice & Fire " series and proceed to read and dissect their favourite chapters.

Featuring Special Guest Experts Joseph Murphy and Trey Birkenstock, the official Accent Consultant for the book and television series.

Episode 20 - The Winds of Winter by George RR Martin (with Joseph Murphy!)

The Idiots discuss Kazuo Ishiguro's haunting and moving tale of clones and the human condition - debate the existence of free will - what ARE you going to do with all that bum-fluff anyway? - what to do if you're ever in a room with TWO Johnny Depps - Apps for organ donations.

Featuring Special Guest Expert Tom Redman and Siddartha Bookherjee, a well-being guru.

Episode 27 - Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (with Tom Redman!)

In which the Idiots discuss Charles Dickens's epic tale of love and sacrifice in the French Revolution "A Tale of Two Cities" - reveal the mystical secrets of the Beefeaters - take sides in the upcoming class war -and we DO NOT take a trip to Opposite Land.

With returning guest philanthropist and Subway sandwich artist Serge Pistache and  Special Guest Expert Lenny London, one of the Her Majesty's Beefeaters.

Episode 28 - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

This week the Idiots discuss Lionel Shriver's bleak tale of motherhood and psychopathy "We Need To Talk About Kevin" - delve deep into the lore of Donkey Kong - give advice on how to raise your kids right - find out what Neil Patrick Harris is up to these days.

Featuring Special Guest Experts, father and son petrol barons Bryce Starnbarn and Bryce Starnbarn Jr... or are they?

Episode 31 - We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

In which the Idiots get to the heart of Michael Bond's beloved ursine children's character - uncover the infanticidal subtext of Paddington - get schooled on what proper Chinese food really is - try to protect the Queen from danger.

Featuring Special Guest Experts Anne Klein, everyone's favourite Beefeater Lenny London and The Chinese Restaurateur.

Episode 37 - A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond (with Anne Klein!)

In which the Idiots discuss Jack Kerouac's semi-autobiographical cult novel - Chin has a meltdown -  Alice tells us her fear of gunge - we are told to keep the noise down -  we drink possibly too much wine.

Featuring Special Guest Experts Michael Hill, Sasha Ellen, MMA Fighter Michael "Fuck 'em up" O'Reilly, and the Lodger.

Episode 39 - On The Road by Jack Kerouac (with Michael Hill, Phil Lindsey & Sasha Ellen!)

Now we have a Christmas themed episode ho-ho-ho

Jólabókaflóð 2017

In which the Idiots get all romantic for Valentine's Day and discuss "Fifty Shades of Grey" by EL James - Haran reveals the secret parallels between "Fifty Shades of Grey" and the Treaty of Versailles - learn how the book has been used as an instruction manual for the sexually clueless - which animals have the best thighs? - Clint Eastwood won't respond to my emails.

Featuring Special Guest Experts Lucy Roper and Sex Counsellor B.J. McHammer.

Also, come see our live show at Waterstone's Tottenham Court Road on 29th March! Get your tickets here: https://www.waterstones.com/events/faking-lit-podcast-presents-the-da-vinci-code/london-tottenham-court-road

Outro Music: Venus In Furs - The Velvet Underground

Episode 46 - Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James (with Lucy Roper!)

In which the Idiots discuss Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's ripping yarn about dinosaurs - debate whether wheat is a fruit - dive into the lucrativer world of dinosaur erotica - retool the show to create the next great work of dinosaur erotica.

With Special Guest Experts Sam Dodson and advertising executive Barry Blinds.

Our live show is happening THIS THURSDAY! Click below for tickets:

https://www.waterstones.com/events/faking-lit-podcast-presents-the-da-vinci-code/london-tottenham-court-road

Visit Sam's website, Nothing In The Rulebook here:

https://nothingintherulebook.com/

Outro music: Walk The Dinosaur - Was Not Was

Episode 51 - The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (with Sam Dodson!)

In which Haran takes over hosting duties for a 420 special while Chin is away staring at something completely unrelated in the corner and leads a discursive discussion on John Williams's late-blooming bestseller "Stoner" - debate the myriad forms of love - compare the relative bar for bestsellers in the US and the UK - get incredibly defensive over minor perceived slights.

Featuring Special Guest Experts Jonny Gillam and Gideon Ponyboy, the world's purest Rastafarian.

Outro Music: Spliff Dub - Zomby

Episode 55 - Stoner by John Williams (The 420 Special with Jonny Gillam!)

In which the Idiots discuss Bret Easton Ellis's infamous satire of 80s narcissism and excess "American Psycho" - question the very fabric of reality itself - butts and abs gets slapped, we don't play favourites here! - two familiar faces return...

Featuring Chambers Johnstein Jr & Chambers Junestein Sr, father and son jam brewers.

Episode 61 - American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

In which the Idiots discuss Thomas Pynchon's cult novel of paranoia and mail conspiracy "The Crying of Lot 49" - discuss Bruce Forsythe's last show "Strictly Sane" - why does Batman love beating up mentally ill people? - a cat barber gives dating tips.

With Special Guest Experts Nathan Roberts and Edward Pomblebee, a cat barber.

Episode 64 - The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon (with Nathan Roberts!)

In which the Idiots discuss Ian McEwan's meta-fictional tale of loss, guilt and love, "Atonement" - learn the secret military origins of the Chicken McNugget - unveil Steve Koenig's latest project for Netflix - swelter in this unending heat-wave.

Featuring Special Guest Experts Steve Koenig and Crispin Pacquet, a naval spitfire pilot.

Episode 70 - Atonement by Ian McEwan

In which the Idiots discuss J.D. Salinger's quintessential moody teenager novel, "The Catcher in the Rye" - Dan opens up about his musical tastes and his past as a sk8tr boi - we learn that Chin is a scummy Globalist shill - our guest reveals the perils of believing the Mainstream Media.

Featuring Special Guest Expert Gareth something or other.

Episode 71 - The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Sorry this one is so late.

We continue our Unofficial Dystopia Season with a chat about about Philip K Dick's nightmare alternate universe in which the Nazis won the Second World War, taking in diverse topics such as the "Bildenberg" Group, how to adopt a cunning pseudonym and why Nazis are bad.

With Special Guest Experts Adam Riley, Jonny Gillam and The Captain.

You can buy "Tomorrow's World" by Guy Portman here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07JMKVWD1/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Episode 93 - The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick (with Adam Riley & Jonny Gillam!)

The Dystopia season continues with our discussion of David Mitchell's genre colliding work of literary ventriloquism "Cloud Atlas" and we reveal the secrets of Chin's hot bod, Josh's past life, reveal that Freddie Mercury was an ant and create a haunting work of art. #AllMenAreCool

Featuring Special Guest Experts returning edgelord DeviantArtist Terry Sauce and super hacker supreme B.L.U.E.S.T.E.E.L.T.H.U.N.D.E.R.M.A.C.A.B.R.E.

Episode 94 - Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (with Simone Belshaw!)

We discuss all manner of bodily fluids and bizarre family rituals as we delve into Iain Banks's classic warped coming-of-age novel "The Wasp Factory" - we find out that the super-rich are really just like us when all is said and done - learn what the Chinese ET would sound like.

With Special Guest Experts Horni and Chayst Mostenice, heirs to the Moistenice Plunger Fortune.

Episode 99 - The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

Episode 100 - Inifinite Jest by David Foster Wallace (Part 1)

Episode 100 - Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace (Part 2)

In which we discuss Ayn Rand's notorious objectivist magnum opus "Atlas Shrugged" - learn about exciting developments in the world of AI - a pop star performs an exclusive new track for us live in the studio - have not one, but two interventions.

Featuring Special Guest Experts Limes (the Artist Formerly Known as Regyna McCracken) and Technomologist Eddie Stank.

Episode 101 - Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

In which the Idiots take apart William S Burroughs's obscene, influential magnum opus "Naked Lunch" - discover that diamonds and crystals are actually the same - Haran opens up to us emotionally - we briefly retool to become a gameshow.

Featuring Special Guest Experts Terry Sauce, edgelord and DeviantArtist and the South African Diamond Man.

Episode 102 - Naked Lunch by William S Burroughs (with Simone Belshaw!)

In which the Idiots discuss Kazuo Ishiguro's Booker Prize winning novel of repression and unrequited love "The Remains of the Day" - discuss the Butler's place in the cultural consciousness - find out about the Butler World Championship - debate which Butlers fuck - call NASA.

Featuring Special Guest Experts Billy Butler, Chin's Court Appointed Butler and returning divorced Yogi, Clive Rudolph.

Episode 103 - The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Episode 106 - Halloweeeeen

In which the Idiots get stuck into Herman Melville's symbolic magnum opus "Moby Dick" - learn the in-and-outs of navel law - discuss whether people in the past knew what a whale even was - talk about sperm.

Episode 107 - Moby Dick by Herman Melville (with Johnny Gillam!)

Oh, gather your ears and come sit a spell,
And hark to the tale that I have to tell!
A mystery! A murder! A villainous deed!
And four possible culprits on your podcast feed!
They'll cover various topics (some of them scary)
Including some of the films of Jim Carrey!
And a bit of the book (we all tried our best)
It's a Faking Lit Christmas, so it's a bit of a mess.

Featuring Special Guest Experts Terry Sauce and Tim Trout-PI, Private Detective.

Faking Lit 108 - How The Grinch Stole Christmas By Dr Seuss

We return for the first episode of the new decade and also make our first attempt to discuss poetry with TS Eliot's beloved book of feline related doggerel "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" - re-litigate an old family psychodrama - pitch a musical about crisp packets - make cat goop.

Featuring Special Guest Experts take-no-prisoners comedian Chris P Bitz, Chin's brother Cheek Coffee and David Simon (the guy who wrote The Wire).

Episode 109 - Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by TS Eliot

Well, well, well, look who decided to post a new episode...

This week the Idiots discuss Virginia Woolf's classic tale of gender bending "Orlando" - catch-up with London's Premier Beefeater Lenny London - catch-up with reclusive fifth Beatle Ebenezer Skrewge - quiz them on the failures of their respective marriages.

Episode 110 - Orlando by Virginia Woolf

Don't go outside. Stay at home. Wash your hands and listen as we discuss Albert Camus' existentialist tale of disease "The Plague" and play "Nazi or Not-zi".

Featuring Special Guest Expert Gin Gee, a clone.

Episode 111 - The Plague by Albert Camus

IT'S A TOTAL LOCKDOWN

We try to make the best of a bad situation and continue to broadcast to whoever's left outside in the Wasteland.

With Special Guest Experts Eva Steenberg, Zaran Hex and Enya.

Episode 112 - Oryx & Crake by Margaret Atwood

Episode 113 - Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson

I'm sorry this is late, things have been crazy

Please continue to stay safe and well.

Episode 114 - Generation X by Douglas Coupland

A podcast in which five idiots get together to discuss the finest works of classic literature.

Listen to them struggle with subtexts, historical contexts, symbolism and the minor fact that none of them have actually read the book.

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