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FromMiette's Bedtime Story Podcast

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Last Class

FromMiette's Bedtime Story Podcast

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Length:

22 minutes

Released:

Apr 4, 2008

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

All week I've been wanting to read this to you, waking up more excited than the trashman on the day-after-Christmas, and running into my.... uh... recording studio (read: three paces from the bed) to see if it's quiet enough...

Released:

Apr 4, 2008

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Curl up and fall asleep to the world's greatest short stories, the known treasures and the once-forgotten, purred to you as only Miette can.

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The Spring: But in order to be mad scientists, first we had to learn how to be normal scientists. It’s funny, imagining John Fahey sitting in a hotel rampantly scrawling. Not because he’s so otherwise voiceless, or should relegate his expressiveness to the steel-s... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
13 min listen
A Note on the Camping Craze That is Currently Sweeping America: Fishing season began early this year for your Miette, with the streetside discovery of a freshly abandoned goldfish with wonky telescopic eyes, in its bowl and with a note reading: Free Fish! Please Give Steve Buscemi a good home. And of course I did. by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
10 min listen
In a Hole: It's confusing, the name of tonight's author, right? I mean, the better known writer sharing this name didn't bother with a middle pseudonymous initial, and there's a slight tweak to the surname, but we readers would be none the wiser, push-to-shove, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
27 min listen
Youth, Beautiful Youth: Returning soon with a much-awaited all-new MBSP. Leaving you with a mightylong one to hold you till (the longest yet in one sitting, I think). - For Dream, remembered always, and loved even longer. by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
102 min listen
Binoculars: A saw a sign the other day while out on a drive, a sign that said this: Frost Heaves. - And I almost had to stop and compose myself, because I was so deeply distressed by the fact that frost can't heave in private (and I'm not a histrionic sort of ... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
18 min listen
Last Class: All week I've been wanting to read this to you, waking up more excited than the trashman on the day-after-Christmas, and running into my.... uh... recording studio (read: three paces from the bed) to see if it's quiet enough... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
22 min listen
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities: Well, pilgrims. It’s that day once again when the poisoned blankets of history are celebrated with turkey and squash. And I want to get all excited with you about Delmore Schwartz, and rave a while about how you should be able to listen to the rhythm o... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
28 min listen
The Quilt: This was going to go up during Banned Books week, but then I got a nasty visit from Uncle Rhinovire, and then there was the trip to the Akvariet and then it hit me that neither a short story nor the oral presentation of one qualify, really, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
33 min listen
Lonesome Road: A mildly embarrassing problem when getting under way with tonight's story, confessed in full in these lines: when I first sat down to read it to you this evening, I got caught on a raft in a sea of lexical continental drift, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
19 min listen
Truth or Consequences: After a week of muscle-burning manual work and long long drives, some of us settle in with a nice cold beer. For others-- maybe like me, who's to say -- it takes more that that... way more, maybe, to relax muscles as sore as these and attempt to put t... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
14 min listen
Fun With Your New Head: A couplefew nights ago, catatonic with fatigue after a couple days of travel, I found just the right pace of entertainment watching my cat chase a furry little squeaker all around the place. My conscience wouldn’t let me object– it was nature’s way and... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
8 min listen
A Handful of Dates: The question that's been asked a few times of me now: why don't I read more African writers? Actually, it's been asked more than a few times... enough times, in fact, to warrant the sort of qualifier most accurately described as MANY. by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
27 min listen
Of Angleworms and Others: So it’s summer right now, if you’re with me hemispherically. Although if you were to zoom in a little closer you’d see that in some places, we’re tying up that chapter, it’s cooling down, and that means it’s time to read you some Tove Jansson. Now, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
18 min listen
From the Mouths of Buildings: A message from the author of today's story: - Do you ever wonder as you are reading a story, or hearing one, such as on a podcast, for example, what or whom has inspired a particular story? Picture this: imaginary "directions" or "instructions" for ... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
17 min listen
A Rose for Emily: So, my "identity" was stolen recently. And not for the sake of sordid members-only internet sites or international travel or a weekend of Spitzering other scandalous activities that, if you're going to have your identity stolen, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
33 min listen
When I Was Miss Dow: This story was brought to my attention a few months ago, making its way inbox-ward on the anniversorry of my trip down Amniotic Lane, timing not unintentional. Now, I would share with you my thoughts on why this was selected as a Birthday Story, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
42 min listen
I Stand Here Ironing: So I have this tendency, as you may have noticed, to take a sharp left at matters of personal divulgences, which is a difficult thing to pull off today, given the severity and somber-ity of a story like this one. But so, okay, here you go, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
30 min listen
Eveline: Were I a listmaker, and perhaps I am, you would be the warm recipient of many reasons to be grateful when the internet goes for broke on Bloomsday. This list, were I to make one, would include the subcategories: FOR ME and FOR YOU. by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
15 min listen
The Cask of Amontillado: So I read in the news today about the Indonesian macaque monkeys who’ve learned to successfully catch fish, and how exciting this is for biology, and how it’s a living and breathing example of the adaptation of a species to its conditions and environme... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
22 min listen
The Self-Contained Compartment: During a trip by car I noticed a guy on the phone in a parking lot frantically trying to start his car, a kid really, a kid in trouble, just laying into the ignition while the engine was turning halfway over which indicated, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
8 min listen
Some of Us Had Been Threatening Our Friend Colby: As I lay writhing on my sickbed I was catching up on my milehigh stack of unread periodicals, and made my way to an article about one of the leading competitors for an upcoming race for a high position of public office in the country in which I'm livin... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
13 min listen
The Burning City: Boy, I sure am all kinds of flushed with the Scandinavs these days. Maybe it's my compassion for others plying their way through long cold winters, or maybe it's my assertion that gravlaks is a flawless food, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
12 min listen
The Pukey: “But when it thinks, I feel like vomiting.” With these words, it is clear that if Nigel Dennis were still around I’d be his groupie. I’d start the FaceBook Club and make mashups on Youtube for him and disguise myself as an editor at Rolling Stone Magaz... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
18 min listen
The Boat: Canadian Short Fiction Month continues, as promised, with a story that seems obviously designed to be delivered from the lips straight to the ears. There’s so much beauty tucked away in here of the sort you wouldn’t necessarily see on the page, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
57 min listen
The Pool of the Stone God: For those of you who will not be spending the weekend dressed scandalously and behaving just as badly, or scaring young children, or throwing personal hygiene product in the trees of your enemies, ... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
12 min listen
Various Miracles: More Canadian Short Fiction? You damned well bet– just check the calendar. On that note, I’m starting to think Carol Shields herself is somewhat of a miracle. For starters, look at this, from an interview on Canada as a landscape for writers: “We’re no... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
15 min listen
Lawyer Kraykowski’s Dancer: A few days ago I was driving down the street behind a car which, as was warned by prominent display of rooftop sign, was being operated by a Student Driver... a sign which really wasn't necessary, given the stammering mid-intersection braking and sidev... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
34 min listen
To the Open Water: As I noted in the whole wide verbal megillah setting up tonight’s reading, I’m taking great issue with the Wikipedia entry on tonight’s author. Here, again, is the first sentence, with my call to fix it: Jesse Hill Ford (December 28, 1928 – June 1, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
29 min listen
Show-and-Tell: In the two days since first reading of tonight’s story, I’ve been deeply ensconced with this idea of show-and-tell, to the irrational (read: batshit) point of showing-and-telling the objects comprising the contents of my desk to the various beasts kick... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
38 min listen
The Hyannis Port Story: I was talking to the resident genius here about false memories and the publishment thereof, when an idea emerged, an idea with such potential for industry salvation that there’s no choice but to document it here, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
35 min listen

More Episodes from Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast

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A Little Cloud, by James Joyce: I know, I know, I'm late for Bloomsday, and at this point, I thought you'd have forgotten. - My friends, why haven't you forgotten? - I mean, you surely know that the world is breaking the sound barrier with how fast it seems to be going where thi... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
34 min listen
A Mother: Much love from my hidey-hole, where I spent the bedtime hours in recitation from the beginning of Ulysses in celebration of the hour at hand. My audience of one was sound asleep by the snotgreen sea. by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
32 min listen
Counterparts: In my many years of Bloomsday readings, I’ve neglected to tell you about my first run-in with the text. It was more years ago than I’ll ever admit, when I had recently moved to New York, and had almost immediately found myself a nice new literary teena... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
25 min listen
The Housekeeper: Hello and would you just look at the calendar and where has the time gone? I would make excuses for the lapse in months or tell you what I’ve been up to, but that would be projecting, and if you want to know these things, I’m sure you’ll just ask. by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
13 min listen
A Painful Case: I’m sitting on what may be the most beautiful beach in the world, trying desperately to avoid dropping my computer into the chasms dug in the sand by last night’s hatching turtles, and trying even more desperately to explain to you why it’s been so lon... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
26 min listen
Water Liars: In the Wells Tower profile of Barry Hannah I reference in the spoken introduction to today's story (which you should treat yourself to), written before Hannah's 2010 death, the following is offered: by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
12 min listen
Strawberries: A few weeks ago, there was a hurricane that you might have read about (unless it blew a rock on top of you and you decided to live beneath it, in which case, my sympathies). During this hurricane, I was away on what was supposed to have been a Caribbe... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
14 min listen
While the Women are Sleeping: I'm sitting here desperately trying not to listen to the U.S. Presidential Debate that's streaming into my earbuds, because the entire thing seems like such hot-twisted-metal train wreckage that the hairs on my neck get singed just listening to it. by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
71 min listen
Houses (Guest narrator: Patrick Scott): When Patrick Scott has been known to bail me out of a slump in the past, he’s done so with his passel of Old Reliables: Raymond Carver. Flannery O’Connor. Russell Banks. The indisputably great, in other words. So when this time, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
28 min listen
Clay, James Joyce: In some parts of the world, it’s Bloomsday already, and in yours, it may be at the end of a summery Friday work-day, so perhaps The Big Day will greet you just as you’re weeding through your feedreader with an icy drink by your side while you dip your ... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
19 min listen
Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning: It’s been a while since I’ve last read, for reasons whose details I won’t serenade you with, but which have to do with huge, overwhelming, life-changing projects that ultimately will leave me with more time to do this more often (I’ll need a little luc... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
36 min listen
Breaking Camp (from Danvis Tales): If, while listening to tonight’s story, you come to the dialogue and have no idea about what I am talking, you won’t be alone. I staggered across tonight’s author by way of the great Hayden Carruth, whose introduction to Rowland E. by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
12 min listen
The Night of the Ugly Ones: Sometimes a story catches you by title alone. I have a real soft spot, personally, for "The Night of the" stories, no matter the medium. Hunters, Iguanas, Living Dead, even Comets (to a lesser degree)... all of these things weaken my articulated join... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
11 min listen
Illusion by Jean Rhys (Redux): Sometimes it just kills me how many stories I've read here. A lot, that's how many. And as much as I'm endeared to those earlier lo-fi bootleggy recordings, there are some stories which just aren't served by the lack of quality, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
14 min listen
Indiscretion: You'll have to excuse the fact that this sounds somewhat as if it might have been recorded in a submarine in the icy waters beneath an alien planet; I haven't been around for a while, and my audio equipment was dusty and had been playing bingo in a chu... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
25 min listen
The Young Workman’s Letter (Guest narrator: Chris King): Usually, when I think about this humble little project, it fills me with all kinds of amourpropre. Even when I'm temporarily removed from my own devices (audiotorily speaking), I can't help but self-congratulatorily pat myself backwise (I'm flexible) ... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
29 min listen
I Am Awake (Guest narrator: Philip Shelley): Tonight's guest narrator owns and operates The Devastationalist Manifesto, a project I desperately wish would soon revive itself from its two-year hiatus, and not just because I miss the occasional chance for self-gam-gawkery... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
26 min listen
The Man Who Lost the Sea (Guest narrator: Shig Vigintitres): Sturgeon's a presence which should have been established here long ago, and I was grateful beyond expression when tonight's guest reader volunteered to represent him. That said, I was only told there was... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
29 min listen
Enoch and the Gorilla (Guest Reader: Patrick Scott): Some of you may remember the sweet sounds of Patrick Scott from earlier Miette Bailouts. When I put out the call for guest readers, he was quick to the case. But Patrick's a busy guy, now that he's a famous filmmaker, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
17 min listen
Frau Wilke (Guest narrator: Sam Jones): If you know Sam Jones from various internet outlets, you will be neither surprised nor disappointed that he chose to read Walser for his guest stint here. However, if you know Sam Jones from various internet outlets alone, you might not know... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
13 min listen
Everything is Green (Guest narrator: George Carr): The voice you are about to hear is not my own, though today's guest narrator insists his distinctive lilt can be attributed to "equal parts whisky, speed, and diction practice." Which means that it's probably closer to my voice than we'd think at firs... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
4 min listen
Order of Insects by William H. Gass: I know, it's been a while. I've been trying to Have A Summer over here, an effort thwarted by an adverse reaction to allergens purportedly getting caught up in butterfly currents on the other side of the world. Either that, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
23 min listen
Two Gallants by James Joyce: Bloomsday is here again, as you surely know, and as is my ritual, here’s another story from the Dubliners. This is the 7th such reading, and sometimes, the thought of keeping this up for eight more years to finish the collection is one I tend to avoid.... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
27 min listen
At the Anarchists’ Convention by John Sayles: I yanked tonight's story from The Best of American Short Stories 1980, a volume edited by the great Stanley Elkin. If you take one look at it, you'll see that 1980, while not considered a boon year for American fiction, perhaps should be. by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
29 min listen
The Truth and All Its Ugly: Whenever an internet missive or blip crosses my screen with Kyle Minor's name attached, I open it up in awe of his apparently continual reading and writing and thinking acutely about the finer side of the bookish life. by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
39 min listen
First Confession: I hadn't read Frank O'Connor's stories in a very long time-- he fell into the gutter of authors I'd studied to a point of boredom as a student, and while I've spent a good deal of my adult life sweeping those gutters and asking absolution from what I'v... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
22 min listen
Letter from a Hunchback Girl to a Metalworker: Fernando Pessoa has been a long-standing point of not insignificant fixation in the writerly pursuits of Your Faithful (If Not Schedularly Published) Storyteller, for reasons that will be forehead-smackingly obvious to some of you. by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
12 min listen
Killer Whales, Susan Daitch: There's a quite decent independent bookstore in the town in which I'm staying this week, a bookstore that will be closing soon for all the usual reasons. I plan to spend a fair amount of time later this morning vulturing my way through this store, by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
22 min listen
The Force Acting on the Displaced Body, Christopher Rowe: Are your toes frozen? I hope not. Especially if you're as big of a pansy about the weather as I am. - Because the weather knows this about me and is a relentless jerk about this, my revenge is in the form of a seaside adventure story based largely o... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
21 min listen
A Woman of Properties, Jack Matthews: Well, here we are having taken yet another circumnavigatory Gregorian tour together, and I hope that you've put away your party hats and crackers and are back to the grind, having disregarded all the unreasonable expectations you made of yourselves for... by Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
43 min listen

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Last Class

Last Class

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast

Related podcast episodes